A Time for Healing & Restoration

A Time for Healing & Restoration

    2021-06-0506/05/21   
Spiritual  

The thing about living is that if we live long enough, most of us will experience a lot of love, success, and joy but also a lot of failure, loss, and sadness. This past year has been a challenging time for many, no matter how long you have lived.

However, there is hope.

I've had this outdoor plant on my front patio for about ten years. Just for fun let's call him Fred.

Fred was once a vibrant and healthy bush about three feet tall and wide, and was very green and healthy. Over the past year though, Fred went through some difficult times.

In south Louisiana where I live, the weather changes frequently, often within the same day, and we have had more than our fair share of floods, severe storms, tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. At least the dreaded "Murder Hornets" never showed up, although I suspect our mosquitos might have won that battle. ;-)

Fred's caretaker (me) got a little pre-occupied over the past year dealing with his own challenges and did not provide him with the TLC he formally got. As a result, he withered, and as of a few hours ago, would have appeared to most to be dead. All that remained was mostly brown, dried, brittle stems.

Some might have discarded him; however, I remembered Fred from better times, saw his potential, and got to work helping to get him back in shape.

So, I took him out of the old pot, found some healthy roots, trimmed away all of the unhealthy parts, and replanted him in fresh, fertile soil and gave him a good watering. I expect within a few weeks Fred will be well on his way to his former glory with much new growth and beauty restored.

I'm alot like Fred. Perhaps some of you are too. Many of us have been through some difficult times in the past year. A lot of change, loss, sickness, and even death. Perhaps we may be looking and feeling like poor Fred probably did.

However, as there is now hope for him, there is also hope for you and me.

I find hope in the man called Jesus. No matter what circumstance we may face or how hard things may look in the natural, if we put our trust in him, he is faithful and just and will take really good care of us. He created us with a specific purpose for service within his kingdom and equipped us with everything we will ever need to accomplish it. He always sees our potential even when we, or others no longer do.

Sometimes, because of how stubborn we can be, he has to let us get a little beat up before we will listen to him. Then he may have to trim some unhealthy parts out of our life. That can be a little scary and painful, but it is necessary. However, it always results in restoration followed by healing and new life.

He has restored me several times from what I used to believe were impossible, hopeless situations-so I share this from personal experience with both humility and confidence.

You can trust him.

And he's a really great guy to talk to.

I am reminded of a song we sing often at our church called "More Than Just a Man".

He was more than just a man
He gave his life for salvation's plan
He was the truth, the light and the way
And His life he laid down one day
That's when He proved, that's when He proved
That He was more than just a man

I'll share a picture of Fred in a few weeks. Have a great weekend!

headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
Author

Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

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  • Blog Post

    I've had this outdoor plant on my front patio for about ten years. Just for fun let's call him Fred.

    Fred was once a vibrant and healthy bush about three feet tall and wide, and was very green and healthy. Over the past year though, Fred went through some difficult times.

    In south Louisiana where I live, the weather changes frequently, often within the same day, and we have had more than our fair share of floods, severe storms, tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. At least the dreaded "Murder Hornets" never showed up, although I suspect our mosquitos might have won that battle. ;-)

    Fred's caretaker (me) got a little pre-occupied over the past year dealing with his own challenges and did not provide him with the TLC he formally got. As a result, he withered, and as of a few hours ago, would have appeared to most to be dead. All that remained was mostly brown, dried, brittle stems.

    Some might have discarded him; however, I remembered Fred from better times, saw his potential, and got to work helping to get him back in shape.

    So, I took him out of the old pot, found some healthy roots, trimmed away all of the unhealthy parts, and replanted him in fresh, fertile soil and gave him a good watering. I expect within a few weeks Fred will be well on his way to his former glory with much new growth and beauty restored.

    I'm alot like Fred. Perhaps some of you are too. Many of us have been through some difficult times in the past year. A lot of change, loss, sickness, and even death. Perhaps we may be looking and feeling like poor Fred probably did.

    However, as there is now hope for him, there is also hope for you and me.

    I find hope in the man called Jesus. No matter what circumstance we may face or how hard things may look in the natural, if we put our trust in him, he is faithful and just and will take really good care of us. He created us with a specific purpose for service within his kingdom and equipped us with everything we will ever need to accomplish it. He always sees our potential even when we, or others no longer do.

    Sometimes, because of how stubborn we can be, he has to let us get a little beat up before we will listen to him. Then he may have to trim some unhealthy parts out of our life. That can be a little scary and painful, but it is necessary. However, it always results in restoration followed by healing and new life.

    He has restored me several times from what I used to believe were impossible, hopeless situations-so I share this from personal experience with both humility and confidence.

    You can trust him.

    And he's a really great guy to talk to.

    I am reminded of a song we sing often at our church called "More Than Just a Man".

    He was more than just a man
    He gave his life for salvation's plan
    He was the truth, the light and the way
    And His life he laid down one day
    That's when He proved, that's when He proved
    That He was more than just a man

    I'll share a picture of Fred in a few weeks. Have a great weekend!

    headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
    Author

    Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

    Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

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      Related Content

    We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


    Jesus at the Temple

    Cure for Bitterness?

    When I was very sick, there were many days I couldn't walk without a cane or crutches. There were some days, I couldn't walk at all. One of my favorite Bible passages was when Jesus healed the paralyzed man. It's a great story on so many levels: he was healed, his friends were looking out for him and were persistent in searching for help, and he walked away a new man. But what if looking at the obvious has us missing the point of the story completely?


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    Hands Praying over Bible

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    I was driving to work this morning and saw this on a billboard and just had to blog about it! "Is prayer your steering wheel, or your spare tire?"


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    Small Boy with Christmas Hat and Present

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    Snowflake on ground covered with snow

    What Christmas Means To Me 2011

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    open door that reads Better Quality of Life!

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    Our sense of wellbeing depends on a host of factors ranging from our state of health to the level of fulfillment we experience in relationships and in intellectual, spiritual, and occupational pursuits. In short, by seeking to live better, we increase our chances of a happier, healthier life.


The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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