When God Turns Healing Into a Calling
I didn’t begin this journey because everything was easy — I began it because it wasn’t.
Like so many of us, I reached a point where the conventional answers weren’t enough. My body was weary, my spirit was heavy, and I found myself praying for a deeper kind of healing — not just a relief of symptoms, but a renewal of wholeness.
That prayer became a path.
The Search for True Healing
My health story, like many, is complex — chronic illness, fatigue, pain, and a body that didn’t always respond the way it “should.” For years, I tried to balance the medical and the spiritual, the physical and the emotional. I believed in medicine, but I also believed in the healing power of creation — the herbs, the oils, the rhythms God placed within nature itself.
What I discovered is that healing isn’t linear. It’s layered. It’s not a quick fix — it’s a conversation between the body and the soul.
That’s what led me to study herbalism and aromatherapy — not as trends or hobbies, but as tools to listen more deeply to the wisdom of the body and the gentleness of God’s design.
The Call to Wholeness
As I learned more about herbs and essential oils, something within me began to shift. Healing stopped being something I chased — it became something I participated in.
In every plant, I began to see the fingerprints of the Creator — the lavender that quiets anxiety, the frankincense that lifts the spirit, the peppermint that clears the mind. These weren’t coincidences; they were gifts of Providence.
I wanted to understand not only the science but also the sacred rhythm beneath it — how the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of life are all interconnected. That’s what led me to pursue certification as a Wholiopathic Counselor — to integrate faith, holistic health, and gentle, individualized care.
Wholiopathic means whole-person healing:
- Body — through nutrition, herbs, and natural support
- Mind — through rest, rhythm, and renewal
- Spirit — through prayer, sacrament, and surrender
It’s about cooperating with God’s design for restoration — not striving to control it.
Where Science and Soul Meet
I want to be clear about something that’s deeply important to me: healing does not mean rejecting medicine.
Wholeness isn’t found in extremes — it’s found in harmony. I don’t believe true healing means the absence of pharmaceuticals or medical intervention. Rather, it’s a place where both modern medicine and God’s natural resources exist together, each serving their purpose in love and wisdom.
As someone who relies on traditional medications every day to help my body function and manage complex conditions, I’ve learned to see them not as failures of faith, but as instruments of grace. I also use herbs, essential oils, and nutrition to support my body — not to replace what’s needed, but to cooperate with it.
Nobody should feel ashamed of that balance.
Healing is not “this or that.” It’s a sacred “and”.
Every body is different. Every journey is unique. God meets us where we are — in hospital rooms and herbal gardens, in pharmacies and in prayer.
Wholiopathic care honors that truth: that everything good and healing comes from the same divine Source.
The Grace in the Lemons
The name Grace Filled Lemons came from the heart of that journey. Life gave me lemons — chronic illness, exhaustion, uncertainty — but grace filled the cracks. God took what was sour and used it to heal me, inside and out.
Becoming a certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, and Wholiopathic Counselor was never about collecting titles. It was about learning to serve — to bring comfort, peace, and God’s presence into the healing process of others who feel unseen or unheard.
It’s about offering the same compassion I once desperately needed.
A Ministry of Healing and Hope
Now, when I blend an herbal tea, prepare an anointing oil, or sit with someone as they share their story, I see it as sacred work. It’s prayer in motion. It’s ministry in the everyday.
I believe that every form of healing, when offered to God, becomes holy ground. The garden, the kitchen, the prayer chair — they’re all altars of grace.
So why did I become a certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, and Wholiopathic Counselor?
Because healing — in all its forms — is how I meet God.
And helping others find that same meeting place is the greatest joy of all.
A Season of Renewal
At this time, I’m not seeing new Wholiopathic clients, but that doesn’t mean the ministry has fully stopped. From a young age, I have been drawn to the ways God provides for our healing—through creation, through care, and through the wisdom He places in our bodies and minds. My journey led me to study herbalism, aromatherapy, and Wholiopathic counseling, seeking ways to support the health and well-being of those around me, guided by faith, science, and the rhythms of God’s creation.
Those years of study and practice were full of learning, growth, and deep gratitude. I had the privilege of helping people explore holistic approaches to wellness, witness the subtle ways healing can unfold, and learn from the remarkable resilience of the human body and spirit. Every patient, client, and conversation shaped not just my professional skills, but my own understanding of God’s care and provision in daily life.
While I am deeply thankful for that chapter, God has been gently guiding me toward a new path: studying Liturgy in the Catholic Church. This shift does not mean that what I learned is lost—it is very much a part of who I am. Though I am no longer seeing clients in person, I still feel called to share the knowledge and skills I gained, offering guidance, inspiration, and practical tips freely. Just as the seasons change, so do our purposes and directions, and I trust that God can use my experiences in ways I may not even yet see.
Closing the gate on that path was not easy, but I am embracing this new vocation with gratitude and hope. I am eager to explore the beauty, depth, and sacred rhythm of liturgy, while continuing to honor the lessons, insights, and experiences from my time in herbal and holistic ministry—sharing them in ways that bring healing, encouragement, and joy to others.
Through continued writing, prayer, and shared reflection, I hope Grace Filled Lemons can be a place where you find gentle encouragement, holistic wisdom, and the reminder that healing is holy — even in the waiting.
From my Grace Filled Lemons heart to yours,
Laura
Grace Filled Lemons 
Leave a comment