Giving Thanks in all Circumstances

Its that special time of year where the holidays are approaching. The time where families get together to spend time together and create memories. It is the time for friends and family to share thanks and reflect on all of the blessings that have received over the past year. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. The smell of savory turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, warm crescent rolls, and sugary sweet potato casserole. The taste of homemade pecan pie and sweet pumpkin pie with a dollop of whip cream on top. The view of family filling the room with smiles and laughter. The sound of shouting as the Dallas Cowboys play on the T.V. and then the sight everyone falling asleep after a big meal. Family traditions are my favorite.

Thanksgiving is a great time of year, but we can’t hide the fact that it is centered around food. This can bring a lot of anxiety for those who have to stay away from certain foods like gluten. Let’s be real, most thanksgiving foods are full of wheat. This makes it hard for those of us with celiac or other autoimmune diseases to fully enjoy the holiday parties. Last year was my first year of holidays being diagnosed. It was hard. I couldn’t participate in work holiday parties, eating lunch at family’s houses, and being careful not to let others mix serving spoons at our thanksgiving dinner. It was a stressful time of year for me.

Thankfully, I am blessed with a mother who puts my health first and takes everything on herself. She goes out of her way to make sure I can enjoy my thanksgiving just like everyone else can. Instead of having family members contribute and bring sides like they always have, she makes it all herself so that I do not have to stress about getting sick or not being able to eat certain things. Thanksgiving with Celiac IS possible! It takes a lot of time and preparation figuring out what spices to use and not cross contaminating with gluten. I will always be thankful for my mom!

While Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and football, I can’t look past the reason for the season. Thanksgiving is a time to share gratitude and thanksgiving for all of the blessings that we have in our lives. I could list a million things that I am thankful for. My family, friends, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, shoes on my feet, the list goes on and on. However, there is one thing that I am thankful for that you probably would never guess. I am thankful for being diagnosed with Celiac Disease.

You are probably wondering why I would be thankful for something as hard and life changing as this. Its not easy to look at the positives when it seems like it is such a negative thing, but there is always a positive side to everything so that is what I am going to focus on. I have made a list of reasons why I can be thankful for my diagnosis.

1. I am thankful for my diagnosis because I am on my way to being healthy again! After going gluten free for over a year now, I can say that I am continuing my road to recovery. My numbers for celiac have gone down drastically, which means I am close to feeling like a normal person again. There will still be good days and bad days, but my good days will far out way my bad days now.

2. I am thankful because I can control it now. Before my diagnosis, I did not know what was wrong or how I could help myself from being in pain. Now that I know that gluten is what has been hurting me, I can control what I am eating and putting in my body.

3. I am thankful because I don’t look like a walking skeleton anymore. After cutting gluten out of my diet I was finally able to gain weight and the dark circles around my eyes are gone.

4. I am thankful for celiac disease because it has given me answers to the years of constant pain. I am happy to not be wondering why I feel the ways I have been feeling for so long.

5. I am thankful because it taught me to open up to people. I have bottled up my feelings and pain for so long because I didn’t want to burden others or complain. For a long time, I held it all in and didn’t share what I was going through with others. Since being diagnosed I have learned that sharing with those that I trust, and love is helpful for me.

6. I am thankful because I am able to sleep more at night. Before being diagnosed I would struggle with sleeping at night. This was mostly due to the pain I was going through. I was always tired and would want to sleep but my body would never let me.

7. I am thankful because my diagnosis has shown me that I am stronger than I thought I was. I knew that I was a strong girl before, but the year I was diagnosed was the most stressful year and I wondered if I would make it through. It was my senior year, I was working two jobs, I worked a camp all summer, started student teaching, and prepared for graduation. I look back and wonder how I even made it to graduation, but I came out stronger and now know that I can overcome anything I set my mind to.

8. I am thankful that it only took two and a half years to find my diagnosis. There are so many people that go undiagnosed for many more years.

9. I am thankful that God put the right doctors in place and the tools to live a healthy life.

10. Most of all I am thankful for Celiac Disease because it has strengthened my relationship with God. I have spent every night talking to God and asking Him for answers. It took a few years for Him to give me the answers, but our journey together through these past few years have strengthened my relationship with him in more ways than I could have imagined.

During this holiday season, give thanks to the Lord for all he has blessed you with. He always brings good out of every situation so look for the positives and focus on them instead of dwelling on the negatives. Thank you, GOD for carrying me through all the hard times and never leaving me! “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18