GAIL SANEZ

I don’t think I have a very impressive story to tell. There wasn’t some spiritual transformation in my life. I was born and raised in a Christian household where my parents are very active in the church. My life, however, has had its ups and downs.

I started gymnastics when I was 8 years old. By the time I was 13, I was training at gymnastics practice twice a day, 6 days a week. I competed on the US National Team for 3 years. Two elbow operations kept me from continuing with gymnastics when I was only 16 years old. It was a difficult time for me to have to give up something that I loved so much! How painful is it to turn down colleges who were offering full scholarships because of an injury?! This didn’t seem right!

“The Lord has a plan,” my parents would tell me. “There is a reason why you are unable to compete and accept these scholarships being handed to you! We may not understand now, but the Lord has a plan!” He promises in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” During this time, I became very hungry to KNOW who God really is. I figured that if God was going to change “my” plans around… He’d better have a really good reason!

So, I went to school at NOVA and got my Associates Degree in General Studies in Science. I got mixed up in some unhealthy relationships. I messed around with guys who had absolutely no hope and no salvation. I was trying to live my life for both God and myself. Sort of having the “best” of both worlds! It didn’t work out too well… I was stagnant.

With energy still in my body and athleticism in my blood, I continued to workout at the local gym to stay in shape. I wanted to prevent any sort of post gymnastics weight gain! It was than that I noticed some swelling in my left knee. Wait a minute here! I’m not supposed to have any more injuries! I’ve been out of gymnastics for almost 3 years now! So, I went to Dr. Bennett and they found a fracture in the lateral posterior part of the femur. The Doctor went in and reattached the piece of bone that was “hanging by a thread.” After 8 weeks of crutches and 1 year of rehab, my knee still felt funny. It was during this time frame that I studied to become a personal trainer and took the proper exams needed. I started working at Lifetime Fitness and this is where I met my future husband Ray.

Dr. Bennett went in a second time and found that the bone chunk that he reattached had broken off! This time, he removed the dead bone piece along with a small piece of my cartilage. The cartilage was sent to a lab in Boston where they could harvest it. They basically grew more cartilage off of my own! Again, on crutches for another 8 weeks! Dr. Bennett went in for a third (and hopefully final) time. He implanted the cartilage that they reproduced back into my knee. He than grafted a layer of bone tissue around the bone chunk to act as a protector.

Valentine’s Day was just 2 days after my last (and final) surgery. Ray treated me out to dinner that night. As he helped me hobble to the door, he romantically knelt down on one knee and asked if I’d marry him!

I was determined to become a fitness competitor/ model. At that point, I was introduced to Coach Atherton. We spent about 7months strengthening my legs and the muscles around the knee joint. Then, after about 7 months of being off crutches, I entered into Mocha’s Ultimate Fitness Success Challenge and placed very well in several different events. It was that point that I continued to compete in the obstacle course challenges and physique competitions.

Since then the Lord has blessed me with 4 magazine covers and a couple of featured articles.

Jesus Christ has ALWAYS been faithful to me. In the times when I just don’t understand, He promises that there is always a reason for these trials. Just like it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
God has a plan for our lives, already mapped out and ready for us to enjoy. How do we know which directions to take or which ways we should go? It all starts with learning about God, and developing a relationship with Him that helps us to really KNOW who God is.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55: 8-9.

Are you ready to make a commitment to learn more about Jesus Christ and all that He has done and will continue to do in your life? I know He’s ready and waiting for you to just let go and let Him carry all of your burdens. Trust me! The ride is worth going on!

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