Hi! My names is Meredith Arthur but most people call me Meri. I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for eighteen years. We have three children, a dog, two guinea pigs, a toad, a frog, and fish. I’m a homeschooling mother who works part time as a dietitian. I specialize in nutrition for kids with Autism, food allergies, wellness nutrition, gut health, and helping people who feel as though they have lost hope due to their nutrition status. I’m a bit of a nutrition nut (the non-allergic type).
Our family takes comfort in the following Bible passages:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2nd Corinthians 12:9-11
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 2nd Corinthians 4:16
Our family has a multitude of weaknesses. In the past I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Raynaud’s, and multiple food allergies. I’ve since healed with the help of excellent nutrition, finding rest, and spiritual support from my Father above. My husband is allergic to peanuts, cashews, almonds, and potatoes. He is stubborn and still eats the potatoes. My eldest daughter, Mya, has severe food allergies and a condition called eosinophilic duodenitis. Her eosinophils, white blood cells that release histamine, overreact to certain foods and cause inflammation in her duodenum which is the first part of the small intestine. In addition, she has asthma and eczema. She is allergic to wheat, corn, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, mustard, and kale. She is generally healthy as long as we avoid restaurants where cross contamination occurs. My son, Frankie, has severe peanut and tree nut allergies, but in general is a typical, energetic boy. And finally, Zoey has a laundry list of weaknesses:
- 7.29 MB deletion from 2q22.3 to 2q24.1
- 2q23.1 microdeletion syndrome
- White Sutton Syndrome (POGZ mutation)
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
- Cerebral Palsy
- Autism
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Constipation
- Kidney Reflux
- Dysphagia requiring g-tube
- Impaired speech
- Microcephaly
- Short Stature
- Global developmental delay
- Gait abnormalities
- Strabismus
- Submucous Cleft Palate post repair
- Velopharyngeal Insufficiency
- Deviated Septum post repair
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Intellectual Disability
My sweet, nine year old daughter can “boast” in her weakness more so than all the other members of our family. Life is full of struggles, whether big or small, and we are not meant to be weighted down with them. Instead, God meant us to place these burdens on him and allow Christ’s power to work wonders in our lives. My goal on weakthereforestrong.com is to give you a glimpse into my daughter’s various weaknesses, how her weaknesses have made her strong, and how God continues to play a role in her life and ours by providing us the strength to endure so many hardships.
