I’m turning 30 this year. I hear I should expect great things ;). I’m also pretty sure I’m in the best shape of my life, and working so hard at it. My calories, protein, good and bad fats, carbs, whole grains/fiber, etc. etc. etc. blah, blah, blah, yup, they're good. Walnuts alone are sending us into debt. I’m always trying for more antioxidants, still taking my Prenatals (potent little suckers), B complex vitamins (USP verified), and have added Shakeology shakes 4 days a week (complete with wheat grass ;)). I’ve even taken up running recently (something I swore I’d never do), coupled with Insanity and P90X, to burn off the massive amount of “health food” I’m consuming. I’m doing everything I know and teach.
My point? Well, I can’t manage to keep my hair. For those who’ve experienced the after preggo hair-loss in as dramatic a force as I do, know. Its traumatic. Its happened three times now. This time is no different than the other two, despite my healthier choices. I’m helpless to its furry - lol. This hits home nutritionally for me because, well, that’s kinda’ what I do. Everyone has after-pregnancy hormone shifts, but not everyone loses their hair, especially this much. Perhaps there’s something nutritionally I’m missing? Perhaps IIIIII can fix it this time. OR, as evidenced by the past two months (and going strong), perhaps I’m just going to lose my hair :/. Ugh.
I felt this same way while we were waiting for our first child. What am I missing? What am I doing wrong?
Somehow we seem to think A + B must = C... right? I mean that’s what we’re taught in school. Cause and effect. Find the problem, and fix it. Life gives us A, we simply supply B and surely we'll get C. Wrong. Just like I don’t know why thick-haired women keep it, I don’t know why it took us 3 years to have a baby. I don’t know why the next two came so quickly. I don’t know why irresponsible teenagers get pregnant, especially those who choose to abort. I don’t know why women with PERFECT, text-book pregnancies, doing everything nutritionally and medically right, lose their babies, but crack babies seem to pull through. I. don’t. know.
I do know, A + B does not always = C when God is in the mix. Sometimes you can do EVERYTHING right, and you don’t get the result you wanted. Its important to be a good steward of the body God gave you, but its only part of the picture. If we’re going to call ourselves Christ-followers, we have to actually follow, in whatever direction He chooses to take, within whatever boundaries He chooses. We have to in fact, trust that He is King, Creator and controller of EVERY detail. From the small things like losing hair, to the big things like infertility in a God-fearing home, or the death of a baby who would have been absolutely cherished.
I’m so glad these decisions aren’t mine. I’m so glad the timing of the universe isn’t in the hands of someone who can’t seem to make it to church on time.
You may never know why. It may never make sense. But He knows your heart, His Word says it. He’s in control (It says that too ;) ). Do your best. Make good, knowledgeable choices. Honor Him with your labors. But embrace the limits. Give “it” back to Him today. And tomorrow. And the next...
