Have you ever stubbed your toe? Had a paper cut become infected? Come down with the stomach flu?
Whatever it is, when one part of my body isn’t working correctly, I become acutely aware of it. I try desperately to protect that toe or infected finger from further bumps, and I’m profoundly relieved when the bug passes. I’m thankful for maybe a day. Then life takes over.
The reality of who I am (and you, too, I suspect) is that I pretty much take for granted when my body keeps on ticking along, no matter what I do to it–until it stops. Then I howl in protest and scramble to make right choices in an effort to restore equilibrium. (It works that way with cars for me, too)
The problem is, when everything’s working well, I stop caring. I make poor choices based on my priorities at the moment. (“I’m too tired to exercise. That creamy dessert is too yummy to resist. I need to rest, but I want to finish this, so I’ll keep going.”) I don’t start caring again until my body starts to scream.
I’ve noticed a disturbing trend.
The older I get, the longer it takes to recover from poor lifestyle choices. Even worse, sometimes recovery isn’t possible without drastic measures that I’m not willing to take or able to afford.
Wisdom comes with a high price.
On the positive side, living a healthy lifestyle on a consistent basis does produce change. I’ve always loved vegetables and whole grains, but my downfall has been my sweet tooth. I’m learning to cook for a diabetic, discovering fruit again and making alternatives that rival the original. Salt has almost disappeared from our table, and the dreaded exercise, when shared, is almost pleasant. Almost.
The small miracle of health. I’m not short of breath or sluggish, and my body smiles at the great fuel I’m putting into it. The challenge is to be thankful when everything’s working well. Or isn’t. And all points in between.
“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time, thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” 1 Thess. 5:18
Is there an area of your health that you’re thankful for today?