Taking Care of a Temple

This morning, I checked The Weather Channel app. The temperature read 71 degrees.

My heart might have even skipped a beat.

We are currently getting a dose of what I like to call “faux fall” here in North Mississippi. This happens when it cools down long enough for us sweltering southerners to imagine bonfires, hayrides, pumpkin spice, and cozy sweaters. And depending on the length of this massive cool-down, we sometimes get so excited that we begin switching out our wardrobes to match the temperatures outside.

Without fail, we all know around here that within a week or so, those temperatures will be back up near the 90s and stay that high till near the end of October.

But this morning, we had a pleasant 71-degree surprise waiting for us as we opened our doors and started our day.

While I didn’t dig out the sweaters and turtlenecks, I did decide very quickly on something that would be a part of my son’s and my day – a quick walk at the park.

Breathing in the cool air and seeing the leaves begin to change is always a refreshing reminder of how good the Lord is to us, granting us new mercies every day (Lamentations 3:22–23).

And His mercies are precisely what I have been needing recently.

The past few weeks, my days have been filled with much sadness as I have thought about what could’ve been for my sweet baby that we lost earlier this year. As I watch the change in seasons, I am reminded that this fall I should be planning to have a newborn resting in my arms. Instead, I am packing away baby toys and questioning if I will ever unpack them again.

It is a grief like no other.

Healthline reports that there are five stages of grief. They are as follows:

Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Unfortunately, it seems that for mothers experiencing child loss by miscarriage, these emotions, along with others, also play a part in their daily lives years after loss. Research from a 2017 American Psychological Association study conducted by Rayna D. Markin shared:

Numerous studies have documented the devastating effects of pregnancy loss on parents, particularly on the mother, including chronic and severe grief that may extend for years, beyond the birth of a healthy baby, and does not follow the typical linear decline found with other types of grief, as well as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma.

From talking with others who have faced miscarriage, I know that they have also experienced similar sadness, worries, and long-lasting grief as mentioned above, as well as striving to remember their baby.

For myself, navigating this grief is interesting. Some days, my energy levels are at their maximum capacities. On other days, that motivation seems lacking, and is replaced by eating copious amounts of unhealthy foods and treats – my go-to when life gets hard.

But today, when those feelings hit (accompanied by the cool weather change), there was a motivation to go for a walk in the park.

While I was there, I was reminded of a significant (and often discussed) Scripture passage.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19).

I have seen this passage used in various contexts to address multiple topics. But today, all I could think about was how important it is to take care of our bodies by choosing healthy choices – especially when grief leads us to feeling like eating our weight in chocolate chip cookies.

Our bodies are homes for our Heavenly Father, and how we treat them matters.

We were bought at a precious price, dear friends.

What we choose to consume matters, whether that involves unhealthy food choices, poor entertainment choices, or opting to rest instead of exercising to maintain a healthy lifestyle, or anything in between.

As believers, we are not our own – not even our bodies. We are a dwelling for the one true God.

And the truth is, that baby that I carried on earth for a short amount of time (in the grand scheme of eternity) was never even mine. Instead, he was always His. That fact is a precious relief for this hurting mom’s heart.

May we, no matter our emotions, decide to choose Him and His glory above all else.

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