's motd Sunday May 25, 2008

[Guest guest]

AND WE PRAYED

Sunday, 25 May 2008

I received a letter from a sweet 25 year-old lady who suffers from asthma and obesity. In her letter, she told me that because of her asthma, she has to take steroids and that she has some other medical disorders to contend with as well. She had a tiny voice but told me that she really wanted and needed to lose weight.

I told her how I suffered from asthma myself when I was younger. And although I didn't have to take steroids, I did have to often use an inhaler to control my asthma when I was a child. But I still got sick from my asthma, several times back when I was still a kid.It wasn't until I was older that I found out that eating many of the wrong kinds of foods caused severe asthmatic reactions in my body. I asked this young lady if her doctor had given her any information on which foods to avoid since she suffered with asthma. She told me, "No, he hadn't."I asked if she ate ice cream. She told me "Yes." Mayonnaise? She answered "Yes," again. Sour cream? "Yes." Salad dressings with a mayonnaise base? "Yes." I asked if she drank milk and, once again, her answer was "Yes."

Now I have to tell you, I used to eat all of the same things when I was a kid and I also got sick each time I did. In many asthmatics, dairy products seem to cause a reaction in the body that makes breathing very difficult.Eating crustaceans like shrimp, crabs or oysters can cause the throat to close up and make it hard for an asthmatic to breath. And there are other foods that are problem foods for asthmatics. I told her that if her doctor gave her no information, she should go to the computer and find more information on her own.When I asked about her family, she told me that she lived with them and that her father was a minister. I asked to speak with him and discovered that he was a very nice man.

I told him that his daughter had written me because she was so concerned about her weight. And I told him that I would be here for her when she needed my help on her weight-loss journey. I also asked her dad if he would pray for all of the other people out there who are suffering with weight-loss issues. He gladly agreed.And over the phone, he offered the most beautiful prayer. And you know how I feel about prayer. Talking to God really soothes the soul and prayer contains no calories or fat grams!I will always remember this call. And I will pray that this young lady, as she rids herself of this weight, will also be able to rid herself of that asthma, too.Of course, I always keep you all in my prayers!Love,