Want to Thrive in Your Midlife and Senior Years? Take Care of Your Body!
“You are not your own. You were bought with a price, therefore honor God in your body” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
In my forties, I would lie in bed, glance at our NordicTrack by the window, and ask myself, "Do I want to get on that thing today or not?" My answer was always a solid NO. But, who knows? Maybe tomorrow?
I also considered doing sit-ups on the floor. What ended that exhausting idea? I wasn’t sure how I’d get up once I got down!
I wanted to exercise… sort of. But my body and mind refused to cooperate. And that was pretty much my routine for years.
Then I turned fifty.
During a doctor's visit, I heard the words that finally broke through my denial:
"You have diabetes."
Like my mother and grandmother, I had inherited a condition that I couldn’t ignore anymore.
Sometimes it takes a wake-up call to finally deal with something we've been putting off, which is what happened.
That day, I went for a walk and talked with God.
My prayer was simple: “Lord, if I don’t take my health seriously, I won’t be able to serve You well. Help me honor the life You’ve given me.”
I didn’t suddenly leap out of bed and onto the NordicTrack every morning. I still wrestled with resistance. But slowly, the truth settled in: my body belongs to God, not me. That changed my attitude.
Now walking, going to the gym, and pulling on machines that feel like they’re loaded with 100 pounds are part of my normal week.
How about you?
How do you view your body?
How are you caring for it, respecting it, thanking God for it?
Only you can change how you care for your body. But, if you sense change is needed, don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by a huge goal. Just look for one small change you can make today, or this week.
With love and understanding,
Poppy
I also considered doing sit-ups on the floor. What ended that exhausting idea? I wasn’t sure how I’d get up once I got down!
I wanted to exercise… sort of. But my body and mind refused to cooperate. And that was pretty much my routine for years.
Then I turned fifty.
During a doctor's visit, I heard the words that finally broke through my denial:
"You have diabetes."
Like my mother and grandmother, I had inherited a condition that I couldn’t ignore anymore.
Sometimes it takes a wake-up call to finally deal with something we've been putting off, which is what happened.
That day, I went for a walk and talked with God.
My prayer was simple: “Lord, if I don’t take my health seriously, I won’t be able to serve You well. Help me honor the life You’ve given me.”
I didn’t suddenly leap out of bed and onto the NordicTrack every morning. I still wrestled with resistance. But slowly, the truth settled in: my body belongs to God, not me. That changed my attitude.
Now walking, going to the gym, and pulling on machines that feel like they’re loaded with 100 pounds are part of my normal week.
How about you?
How do you view your body?
How are you caring for it, respecting it, thanking God for it?
Only you can change how you care for your body. But, if you sense change is needed, don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by a huge goal. Just look for one small change you can make today, or this week.
- Write down the date and time when you’ll exercise, go to a gym, or walk with a friend.
- Check it off with a smiley face when you are done.
- Celebrate each small step you take, staying excited as you start to see the changes you desire.
With love and understanding,
Poppy