My Journey through Menopause

Menopause – (according to Webster’s) – Change of life, the permanent natural cessation of menstruation.

Menopause – (according to Sally) – Men, oh pause, before you say anything that could ignite turbulence in your marriage!

At age 62 and married for 43 years, I am now safely through that unpredictable period of my life and I can say that there is truly peace and tranquility again. Yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I am enjoying my best years! (Proverbs 31:25 “she can laugh at the days to come”)

My journey through the “change” came as a surprise to me. I was thrown quickly into this life-changing event due to a complete hysterectomy at age 47. I did not suffer the hot flashes that are common to most women. However, I did experience great edginess and irritability. For a time, these symptoms caused disharmony in our typically harmonious marriage.

Initially, I thought that the reason for my moodiness was lack of repentance of some sin deep within my heart. Surely, this sin needed to be exposed and dealt with! “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Sure, I had sin, but prayer and my relationships surfaced nothing that could explain the irrational emotions I was feeling.

My very patient husband, Bill, wondered if this was the same woman he had married. Finally, at his urging, I made an appointment to see my doctor. Changes in my hormone medication and diet made a big difference in how I felt physically and emotionally.

However, my heart still needed help with this “change of life”. Put simply, I wasn’t ready to grow older! Along with this new period in my life came the dreaded body changes. The media had convinced me that the “perfect” woman is a size 6 or lower and that she is physically almost ready to compete in the Olympics at a moment’s notice. And, on top of that, she is able to balance family, home and career…all without frustration. She wakes up every morning energized and looking like a model! As a Christian, I knew that this was not reality, but I was dealing with my loss of youthfulness. Insecurity set in.

As I watched older women in my church, God revealed His meaning of “true beauty.” Gloria Baird is one of those women worthy of imitation in her love for God, joy and zeal. We talked many times during my “challenging” years. She always brought me back to my relationship with God. Philippians 4:4-9 became a theme scripture during those days and remains a favorite of mine.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all…vs.8 ..whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things….”

I am grateful to God for the challenges that life brings. Although the challenge of menopause was a difficult one, the lessons I learned were invaluable. My desire is to share my experience with other women to encourage them and give them hope for the future as we all grow in the Lord together!