Living a Holystic Life

MY BODY IS A TEMPLE

BY MELISSA KESSLER, INHC, MA

Wellness has never been a thing I could take for granted. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 2½, 38 years ago. Since that day, I’ve had to prick my fingers many times a day and carry needles with me in case I decide to eat, whether at home, at a party, or just out and about. When I was a child, other kids were jealous because I was allowed to carry juice boxes around with me in case of hypoglycemia (a condition where blood sugar drops too low). At that time, I didn’t see this illness as a reason for jealousy.

Here I am, now at the age of 40, carrying feelings of appreciation for this health condition - without sadness or embarrassment and without a reason to ask for pity. Instead, I have feelings of pure joy that God gave me a reason to focus on my health throughout my life. Truly, I sit here in gratitude for the diagnosis of diabetes at such a young age. I know you think I’m speaking some crazy talk right now, but hear me out.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV)

In my early thirties, I became a holistic wellness coach with a deep passion and purpose for helping people improve their health and prevent disease.

This calling stemmed from my personal experiences. I sadly watched others with diabetes and other conditions lose faith and deem themselves “broken” until their final days on earth. I also watched people put their health at the bottom of their priority list daily because they hadn’t yet faced any severe illness in their lives. Unfortunately, it seems like it often takes a scare to make a change. What if, whether or not we feel pain, we each would use our God-given self-control to influence our health in a positive manner?

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Type 1 diabetes is a gift that has given me the motivation to treat my body as God’s beautiful temple and not to take my health for granted. I’ve learned to lean on my faith and trust God’s guidance and wisdom to help me deal with this illness. I’ve learned to obediently honor the temple I walk in day to day, allowing me to live a life just like anyone else. My body is a place where the Holy Spirit resides, and He has blessed me with positivity and optimism. So instead of turning diabetes into a pity party for myself, God has granted me the power to use it to make myself stronger and help others recognize how truly amazing their bodies and lives are.

Diabetes has forced me to live by the rules of the world’s top selling self-help book, the Bible, and has kept me in the best health ever.

As stated in 1 Corinthians 9:27 (CSB), “Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

Now I ask you, are you treating your body as the temple God created it to be?

“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John 1:2, ESV)

Melissa is a wife and mom of 2 boys that are a huge inspiration in her life. She is an author and Holistic Wellness + Hormone Educator and helps women go from burnout to feeling ALIVE by UNhustling and balancing their hormones. She has a great passion for natural health and living according to the word of God and using her gift of faith. If you’re ever looking for her, check the beach first. Learn more at melissajkessler.com