Finding Peace in Life's Storms

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Hello, my valued listeners. It's Marlene Greenleaf here, and I want to welcome
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you to another episode of Living in Your Power.
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Today, I want to share something deeply personal and important,
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because over the past few weeks, I've experienced some of the most challenging storms in my life.
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My husband recently underwent a kidney transplant, October the 5th.
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And while we had high hopes for a smooth recovery, there have been some complications.
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And on top of that, I recently lost my father.
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It's been an emotional rollercoaster. One that has tested me.
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Yet through it all, I've found peace.
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And today, I want to talk about how we can navigate through life's storms,
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hold on to our peace, and prioritize our well-being, especially when we are caregivers.
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I want to share my journey and some important lessons I've learned along the way.
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And hopefully, you will walk away feeling empowered to live in your power,
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even through your own storms.
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The first thing I want to touch on is faith because in the hardest of times,
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it has been my faith that has kept me steady,
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when my husband was going through surgery and then when complications arose,
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as of today he's back in the hospital again with a high heart rate but I had
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to lean into prayer and into the promises of God,
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Then, again, as I said, as if that wasn't enough, I had to say goodbye to my
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father, who's in Trinidad.
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He was 91 years old, and we had him cremated last Monday.
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In that moment of loss, it could have been easy for me to feel overwhelmed.
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But instead, I found peace. That peace didn't come from the circumstances themselves.
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It came from knowing that God was with me every step of the way,
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even when things seem out of control.
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Sometimes when life throws all
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it can at you, you've got to hold on to something greater than yourself.
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Faith anchors you when the winds of uncertainty are blowing in every direction.
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I realize that no matter what happens, there's a peace that surpasses understanding.
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And I want to encourage you, if you are going through a storm right now,
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whatever it is, I want you to lean into your feet and trust that God's plan is bigger.
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And through it all, you will come out stronger.
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I also want to talk to you about the people who surround you in tough times.
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There's nothing like a storm to reveal who your true friends are.
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I have been blessed to have so many of you offer your prayers,
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your support, and acts of kindness during this time.
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Some people who I thought were
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just acquaintances stepped up and showed love in ways I didn't expect.
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And then there were others I expected to be there, but they weren't. And that's okay.
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Storms have a way of shaking loose what doesn't need to be in your life anymore.
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It's a gift, even though it doesn't always feel like one.
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The lesson here is to cherish the ones who show up for you and don't waste energy on those who don't.
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Sometimes God uses these seasons to remove people from your life To make room for the right ones.
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Now, let's talk about something that I've had to really learn during this season.
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Self-care as a caregiver. When my husband was dealing with the complications
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after his kidney transplant, I found myself trying to do everything there for
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him, to manage the household, to keep everything in order.
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And while caring for him is absolutely a priority, I realized how easy it was
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to lose myself in the process.
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As a caregiver, it's so easy to pour every ounce of yourself into making sure your loved one is okay.
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But you have to remember to take care of yourself too.
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There were moments when I had to remind myself to take a breath,
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to get outside for a walk, to just rest.
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I mean, it's easy to feel guilty for taking time for yourself,
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but self-care isn't selfish.
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It's essential. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to take care of anyone else.
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And I want to encourage you, especially my fellow caregivers,
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to prioritize your well-being.
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Find those small moments of peace in the chaos and hold on to them.
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For me, being able to get out every day.
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And walk for at least two to three miles or more.
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That has helped me along the way. That has helped me to find peace in this chaos.
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Walking outside, inhaling that fresh air, watching God's beauty around me.
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That has been my peace in this chaos.
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And that brings me to my next point balancing the demands of work with your personal life,
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I mean so often we put our jobs or
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our responsibilities before ourselves thinking that
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if we just work a little harder or push a little more everything will be okay
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but the truth is dear listeners sometimes you have to take a step back the job
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will still be there But your peace might not if you burn yourself out.
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For me, these past few weeks have been a reminder that work isn't everything.
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There will always be more deadlines, more emails, more meetings.
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But what good is all of that if you lose your peace in the process?
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If it ever gets to a point where your mental and emotional well-being are on the line,
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Hey, it's okay to walk away God will open up other doors And sometimes he closes
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one door So he can give you the opportunity to step into something greater Your
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peace is priceless And no job or responsibility is worth sacrificing for it.
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So as I wrap up today's episode I want to leave you with this,
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Life's storms will come. They will test you.
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They will push you to your limits. But they don't have to take your peace.
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Hold on to your fate. Surround yourself with true support. And never forget
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to take care of yourself.
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Especially when you're the one taking care of others.
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And remember, the job will always be there. But your peace is something worth protecting.
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Trust that God will guide you even if you need to walk away,
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I want to thank all of my supporters for your prayers and acts of kindness during
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this time your love has been a reminder of how blessed I am even in the storm,
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so until next time I want you to live boldly in your power today and if it gets
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tough Just breathe and believe. Trust God.
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You still got the strength to rise. Continue to live in your power.