I am a woman of faith. I was raised Catholic, and continue to be a devout Catholic in my adulthood and am raising my family in the faith. As a Catholic, I believe in the mind, body, and soul being intertwined and connected intimately.
In order for our spirits to be nourished, we should care for our bodies and minds with equal importance. I believe in the power of prayer. I also believe in the power of medicine, fellowship, exercise, counseling, and other resources that aid and help our whole selves.
The brain is in the body
I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking that natural remedies like a healthy diet, exercise, routine, and others are not important. They are vital for establishing the foundation of stability.
What I think should be considered, though, is that these options may not always provide the solution to a healthy body, heart, and mind.
I have been in and out of counseling for over a decade. I have learned innumerable lessons in dealing with anxiety, grief, fear, depression, and nearly anything and everything in between. I also have learned that though you possess every tool in the book, you may need a little extra help.
Illness is illness
Say your little one approaches you with a gigantic gash on their forehead. They are bleeding and clearly suffering. How would you respond?
“Oh honey, I see that hurts. Let’s pray for healing and that your gigantic gash does not become infected.”
OR
“Oh honey, I see that hurts. Let’s pray for the pain to go away while we get you to the hospital to get that looked at and cleaned up.”
May I be so bold to say that most parents would choose option #2. I believe in the healing powers of prayers. I also believe in the healing powers of medicine created by the talented medical professionals the Lord put on this earth to serve our health.
Suffering is a part of life. Unnecessary (or preventable) suffering does not always have to be.
For a reason and a season
There are plenty of people in the world who may use medicine as a crutch. I do not advocate for that. I do, though, advocate for getting people the help they need to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually.
I thank God for counselors and psychiatrists who emphasize the importance of mental health, especially for mothers.
I pray for those who have tried everything in their power to feel joy but humbly combine their efforts with medicine to help them be happy and healthy.
I pray for those who struggle mentally that the Lord can bring them peace.
All mothers are worthy of those things.
So if you are a person of faith–YES, keep the prayers coming. Let’s also keep supporting mothers in ways that help them to thrive and feel like their best and most authentic selves.
