It’s never too late to transform your life

by Sandy Schwering

It had been a long time since I had attended Renovaré.  Actually, it was probably ‘back in the day’ when it was called ‘Coffee and Friends’.  But life changes, and something called ‘Covid’,  personal losses, health issues and job stress, led to PTSD flare ups, depression, and anxiety, which left me feeling empty and just wanting to go home to be with the Lord.  I did not not want to make any new friends or make much effort, because I didn’t want to risk getting hurt emotionally.  At my weight, and with diabetes and liver disease,  I believed the statistics that I probably did not have much longer to live.  So I resigned myself to that and continued to withdraw from life.

Until October of 2023, when I decided I needed some time away with the Lord and accepted an invitation to a small women’s retreat at a friend’s lake home.  While there, the Holy Spirit touched my heart, and while doing a little shopping in the town nearby, I found a little plaque that said ‘go. live.’.  I came home after a couple nights away feeling rejuvenated and wanting to make changes… to live life instead of just existing and waiting for the Lord to call me home.  But I did not know exactly where to start.

My daughter had been talking to me about some weird way of eating called ‘keto’.  I really didn’t want to hear about it, because I had been on many weight loss programs and diets, including a medically supervised program and a balloon implant trial.  I lost weight, but could not keep it off.  Making a shift in my thinking and wanting now to live life, I needed to do something as my body was so heavy that I physically could not even get motivated to get up and move!  So April 1, 2024 I started on a Keto diet, rather clumsily at first. I soon found Dr. Eric Westman and his group called Adapt Your Life Academy.  They taught me about a prescription strength Keto diet that was a complete paradigm shift in what I have been taught all my life about eating.  After following their suggestions, and with their support, the weight started coming off!  My diabetes was reversed and my stage 3 liver disease was no longer an issue, with tests coming back normal.  My depression lifted, my thinking cleared and my anxiety is now much more manageable.  During the process I found out that at some point in my unhealthy past, I had signs on a scan that I have had a stroke!  That scared me at first, but no longer.  It was just a good wake up call for how close to death I may have been.

Then last fall, my granddaughter, Brittney, who had started attending Calvary with her husband and kids, wanted to get involved with a bible study.  Renovaré was a logical choice, but it meant my making a commitment to get involved and active, which I did… praise the Lord!  Together we have encouraged each other, even though we each chose different studies.  I  chose the Prayer and Care group, where along with other sweet ladies, we pray for many of our older and hurting members in our church family.  We send cards, visit, and go out to sing with them.  It has been such a blessing to me to be part of this group.

Which brings us to 2025.  This year Brittney made me a plaque with my encouraging words for this year… Be Intentional…  

* Intentionally finding joy in every day that the Lord has given me.

*Intentionally spending time with the Lord and in his word.

*Intentionally loving others. 

I still have a ways to go in my wellness journey and I really don’t know if I have 20 years or 1 hour left to live… but I can honestly say that I trust the Lord with every moment I have, I love the life God has given me, and through the power of HIS Holy Spirit I can sing with full conviction…it is well with my soul.