This past spring I started a program at church to encourage people to eat healthy, exercise, and lose weight! This is my passion in life, and my calling. The program was very successful and seventeen people lost 191 pounds! We took a month off for the summer and started “round two.” We just finished another eight weeks of strenuos exercise and seventeen people lost a total of 162 more pounds! Why does this satisfy my soul?

I went to college to be in the fitness industry. I knew that was what God had gifted me in and really it is a passion that drives me. When Josh and I moved to Louisville, KY for him to go to seminary, God used my career to provide a solid income for our family. I got an awesome job when we first moved. Josh took me around the town and dropped me off at every door of a possible place for me to work. It was the first week in January in Louisville, so the roads were not in condition for me to drive alone. When I got back in the car from turning in my resume, I told him that I really wanted work there. Sure enough, my dream came true and I became a personal trainer at the best facility in America. No lie, it really is!

I quit my job after my daughter was born. Josh and I both knew it would be the struggle of our lives to stay afloat financially, but we knew it was what God wanted for our family. The day I never went back crushed me inside. I loved helping people and teaching people the right way to care for their bodies. It was so rewarding to see lit up faces when they reached their goals. I actually loved being hated, because in a few weeks when they stepped on that scale, or when their old clothes fit again, or when they started coming off all their medications and getting good results from doctors, they loved me then!

I always felt like one day I would run my own club or run someone else’s. While staying at home I started dreaming of working again one day and all the money I could make while also helping people. Josh would look at me pitifully and say that although I had these dreams, my first calling is ministry and I must always be their to help him in ministry. I knew this and also felt this calling on my life to help him and be the best pastor’s wife possible. We are very much a team in ministry and I am very involved in his work. I guess this makes us an unusual couple today.

So, knowing I could not have it all, I conceded to his wisdom. Yes I do know that God has called me to be a mother and also the wife of a pastor. Even after my children are grown, I will still be helping him in the ministry. I cannot have it all. If I never work again, I am okay with that.

God showed me back in the spring that I can have both. It felt so good to get back in the “saddle” again. After the first nutrition class at church I felt so satisfied. I cannot describe what God has done for me in letting me fulfill my passion and calling all in the name of the Lord. I was able to teach and lead these people to a healthier body and also be their pastor’s wife at the same time. We have seen pounds lost, medications tossed, friendships made, and people excited about their bodies again. I had thoughts of quitting my job for the ministry and God had plans of using my talents FOR the ministry. We had several join in the program that were not members of our church and next year I plan to do this community wide!

God also showed me that money was not my motive. I had so many people send me gifts, cards, hugs and thank you’s for these nutrition classes and exercise sessions, but rather I thank you! Thank you God for giving me the desires of my heart. Thank you God for letting me use my talents to praise you! People of Cornerstone, keep it up! We have more pounds to lose and more people to motivate!