One thing I have noticed about myself, and I am speaking just for me. I have become a master of coping with things that happen in life. One of the reasons I weighed over 361 pounds was because of how I cope with stress in life. A lot of times it doesn’t feel like you’re doing anything wrong because you justify it by being “hungry.” Well, once I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and also was pre-diabetic I knew I needed to change. I made the change in the beginning of 2022 and lost over 80 pounds. Then my friend of 20 years passed away.

Here I was 80 pounds lighter and then this new stress of losing a loved one came bulldozing in. Without missing a beat and before I really knew it I was 20 pounds heavier and feeling it. I caught myself and stopped that unhealthy cycle of coping by eating. Then I realized I used other methods of numbing my feelings to cope with not wanting to feel the grief of that loss. I got help and had a friend encourage me and teach me how to trust God and truly trust Him by allowing people that He puts in your life to do so. I found myself wanting to draw closer to Christ and as I desired that, the more darkness filled my surroundings. These feelings of being a lone and of feeling not worthy tried to whisper their way back and I won’t lie I slipped but it was the kind of slip where you lose your balance like 17 times but finally catch yourself from falling… Yeah that is me!!

Another close friend has gone to be with Jesus and though he is gone, he was so full of life. He wasn’t sick, he wasn’t struggling but he is gone. I have been in shock since Friday when I heard the news and have a heavy heart for his wife and kids. They were such a tight knit family, they were the family you want to be like if and when you get blessed to have a family. I felt the same methods of coping trying to push back onto me but this time, God intervened and I did not overeat, but because I am a master of coping I saw small suggestive ways for me to deal with this. Even in my darkness, because of Jesus I could see a light and he keeps it nice and bright. You see I know even in my struggles I am HIS BELOVED and I know He holds nothing against me.

My friends if you are like me and cope in negative ways to deal with stress, grief, rage, anger or depression please know Jesus is truly the way. However, you can’t do it alone!! We need community and family to come together during this time. It is not only important to be like Jesus in these situations, but we must also free the Holy Spirit in us to do His work! I want you to know it is ok to be a master of coping as long as it is in positive ways… Praying, eating healthy, praise and worship, talking with friends or counselor. Choose the doors that are open and not the one’s you have to run full speed into to break down. Enjoy each moment with your loved ones and do not take for granted your each and every breath! God is real and so is Heaven and those we have lost here on Earth have simply passed onto the next side and are ALIVE and WELL… THANK GOD I BELIEVE AND THANK GOD FOR JESUS!!

One Love, One King, All Christ!