Friday, September 16, 2011

Sweeten the Health Message

For my devotions this year I decided to read one on Health Topics and every so often I actually read one I want to share.  I've shared one before and now here is another.

Kay Kuzma talks about a person who came home from a Health Seminar and decided there and then that all the processed foods had to go.  She put the family on an exercise program and lectured to them about health reform.  The family revolted and did not take to the new lifestyle.  What went wrong?

At the time It was a great idea and most leaders and leadership teams know, unless everyone has the vision nothing will change.  To many times I've seen people get enthusiastic about health and cooking new ways with food (especially going totally vegetarian too fast).  Then a few months later they are back to their lifestyle again because the family rebelled.

Kay had some very good advice to remember.
  1. Live what you believe. You can't expect others to live healthily if you don't.  Your actions will speak louder than words.  Do your children see you putting on your jogging shoes and heading out into the brisk morning air?  Do they see you choosing an apple instead of a piece of pie, or water instead of a soda? Pray that God will give you the will power to act on your belief.
  2. Know why you're doing what you're doing. Living healthily should make sense.  Keep it simple.  If something depresses your immune system, clouds your thinking, or puts you at risk for heart disease, stroke or diabetes - it's bad.
  3. Be flexible and balanced. Don't be so health - conscious that you make your family miserable.  Don't be so concerned about what you put in to your mouth that you forget to watch what comes out in terms of criticism and faultfinding.  (And if yo feel a sermon coming on, bite your tongue!)
  4. Make changes slowly. Your body and especially the intestines can not take 24/7 vegetarian meals and sudden exercise after periods of neglect.  Build it up day by day and week by week.  It takes 21 days to make a new habit and longer to break old ones.  A good idea is to always replace old ones with a new one.
  5. Be happy and praise God. A healthy grouch appeals to no one.



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