Here I am again, in the midst of making my life include healthy habits on a regular basis. Drink my water. Don’t eat that Twinkie. Yes, there is time to run. Oops don’t forget those exercises for your neck and shoulders. I could be discouraged that I’m here…again. Sometimes I am. On the other hand, I’m honestly a bit excited. I like knowing I’m trying and this time it seems a bit different to me. My husband is trying to cut down on his eating himself and is very encouraging to me. And I did something else. I took a challenge. This challenge was put out there by a schoolmate of mine. Neither Janelle nor I were the star athletes in our class. To be honest, we were participants at best. We played girls basketball back in the day because that’s what girls did where we came from. (smile)
In all seriousness January 2012 I discovered a book by one of my favorite authors, Gary Thomas. It was not on his usual topics. It is called “Every Body Matters”. I was curious. I read it. Challenge. Here’s the thing it did not just challenge me to do my life a bit differently. It challenge my beliefs about health and wellness, my core thoughts on this matter. You check out Gary and all his books here: Gary Thomas
So here’s my challenge for you today straight from “Every Body Matters”, what if we stopped treating ourselves like ornaments and started treating our bodies like instruments? You have to admit in today’s society there is a push to be thin but with curves “in all the right places” but why? Usually it’s to attract someone of the opposite sex and/or to make us feel good about ourselves. I’m a nurse I can tell you factually it’s just not possible for everyone to fit that old BarbieDoll mold. We are born with different shapes and sizes. (period) However, we CAN all be healthy and we don’t have to be overweight. Instead of thinking of ourselves as ornaments which by definition just sit around and look pretty but don’t do anything, how about thinking of our bodies as instruments or tools. What kind of instrument are you? What is it you want to do with your life? Are you able to do all that you want to do? If not, maybe it’s because your instrument (your body) is weighed down with dross. Check this out: “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 NIV I’ll talk more about gold, silver and dross in the future but for right now just think about realizing you are worth silver and gold to God. You have a purpose. Is your instrument ready to be used? Are you prepared to do “any good work”?
Early in January 2012 my daughter challenged me to run a race with her. She wasn’t an athlete in school either but she is 20 years younger than me and had taken up running for exercise. I needed accountability. She gave it to me. She asked about my exercising. She encouraged me and in early May 2012 we did a duathalon as a team. I ran a 5k (well okay I walked some of it). My husband did the biking portion and she finished with the final 5k. (She actually ran the whole thing) That was an accomplishment for me. It felt good. By fall I was ready to do another 5k but got rained out. Over the winter I let life get in the way of consistent exercise again, but I’m back at it. If you’d like a bit of accountability take this challenge, walk, run, limp, hop, or skip 100 miles by September 30th. The mile counting started June 30th so if you’ve already done a few great! We will encourage each other by posting our miles on Wednesdays here 100 Mile Challenge Even if you don’t officially join the challenge let us know how we can help you by commenting on this blog or on the Treasure Chest Ministries Facebook page. We will all do better together.
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2 Comments
Oh my goodness, Jody.. just reading some of your blogs and here I saw my name. Yup… you and I “participated” at best. I only did that one year of basketball (IOWA 6 girl of course). Decided that wasn’t for me. Did cheerleading in 8th grade (with you… ). Figured out that just wasn’t for me either. Cartwheels not possible. So I stuck to choir, band, and drama.. More up my alley.. I, too, have started this running thing. Not that good at it. I look like an ostrich. But I attempt to keep moving. I have woggled (walk / jogged) several 5K’s. Now my running friends think we need to do this 1/2 marathon. WHAT ???? I’m crazy. I have 6 months to get ready. Will walk a lot of it… but heck, why not.
Jody you are doing great !!! You made it thru the 100 miles. Some days/months better than others…. but we’ll all have that and I just strap my shoelaces a little tighter and try again. I’m not “in it to win it”. I’m just in it to challenge myself. To better my health. Now what’s the next challenge ??
Thank you for your friendship !!
So Janelle, what should the next challenge be??? I really do need some core strengthening. I have some neck issues and need to strengthen my core and shoulders….