Nowhere But Up
I lift UP my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, The Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
See that mountain straight ahead? That’s where we're heading, my daughter and me.
It was an adventure we took that one year.
A year you will hear about in a bit.
I love mountains. I LOVE mountains!
There’s something majestic about them. It’s my earthly paradise and when I go up to the mountaintop I feel the Lord’s presence stronger than ever. Who, but God, could create something so massive, so beautiful!
Will you join me?
It 1996 when I was diagnosed with “clinical depression”. Me?
No way!
I even challenged the doctor.
The result of the visit was medication & counseling.
Counseling was ok, but it wasn't my answer.
Medication?
I did not like taking medication, the doctor knew it.
That's why I had to promise to take it every day.
I did.
I was nauseous and headachy EVERY. SINGLE. DAY!
How was this going to pull me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire?
I had no idea, except for the hope and trust I had in the Lord.
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40.
In 2008 I took myself off of antidepressants.
I was fine for a while, but then I wasn’t.
A coworker told me about “Depression Free, Naturally”.
The next day she gave me her book.
I read it because I not only was desperate, but the author promised in the second paragraph that I would find help.
I followed it to the letter and I got better!
Time has passed and I am healthy and content...naturally!
This was my first experience with a different approach to health and wellness.
A second opportunity came when my husband developed a rash on his hands. He used OTC products without relief then went to the doctor. They had no idea what it was, yet he went home with medicated ointment to heal the rash. Doc said to use it one week every four weeks to avoid significant liver damage.
Yikes! Liver damage??
Researching alternative methods to clear the rash lead me to essential oils.
Yes, I discovered there was an oil for that, however, at the time I was told by a well-meaning friend that there was no difference in oil quality from one company to another. Ok...
So I ordered a couple “100% pure therapeutic grade” essential oils from a vitamin company. He used the oil for a week without any noticeable changes.
So much for natural, I thought, but it was worth a try.
It is now 2015.
This was THAT year.
We got a call informing us our daughter was airlifted from her
upper midwest college-town hospital to a much larger hospital a 30 minute helicopter ride away.
She had been found outside one January morning unresponsive with a body temperature of 24°C (75.2°F). She was moments from dead.
Her extremities were already frozen.
Open heart surgery was performed to warm her body.
Yet, from the moment she was found the Lord God Himself set in motion a series of
MIRACLES
for all of us to witness and experience.
We thank and praise God every single day for life and health and miracles.
Her life and health are a testimony to God’s love, grace and healing.
We were home for a week when a friend stopped by for a visit.
She brought us the biggest care package ever!
Everything my daughter needed to get back on her feet.
The miracles continued!
We had everything needed to help support her fragile condition that would lead her back to complete health and wellness and, this, not in the time frame given to us by the doctors, but by God, our Great and Gentle Healer and provider of the best care package ever!
My daughter's cardiac rehab concluded after 1 month instead of 3.
Wound therapy for severe 2nd degree frostbite burns done in 4 months
not 6 - 7 months as the specialist projected.
Two weeks later I found a way to get these care package items on my own.
By the way, my husband tried this company's oils.
One week...rash gone!
So, yes, there is a difference.
And, for me, the depression is a distant memory, yet a good reminder of that care package that keeps me grounded.
Our family learned how precious life is and how purposeful it must be and how important it is to care for the lives God has given us.
We celebrated life with a trip to the mountains.
And now you know why there's Nowhere But Up!
Many peoples will come and say,
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." Isaiah 2:3
Each opportunity in life is filled with joys and challenges.
Remember to look UP in thanks and praise.
~Kim Rolschau~
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