A Healthy Faith.....

From one extreme to the next, .. This week I want to take a look into our physical well-being… covering numerous topics to suit all types of women. From getting older and dealing with gravity, discussing addiction of all types, finding a healthy balance in your life, and most importantly seeing your health as an investment in your family’s future… where would they be without you? Are you neglecting an important physical aspect of your health that may affect your entire family if you do not tend to it?

Let’s face it, getting older comes with many obstacles. I know (especially with the stresses of my daily life) I will not be looking as youthful as Jenny McCarthy at 40, Reba McEntire at 57, or Cher at 66. Let’s not forget Betty White who is still rockin’ the red carpets at 91 years old! But, in my defense I also cannot afford Botox! In reality, for most of us getting older will mean losing our youthful beauty and experiencing the breakdown of our bodies.  Trading in the push-ups for the 18 hour bras.. (you know me always sneaking in a little humor.) However, God tells us that there is loveliness that comes from maturity. Society has made every woman insecure in some way! “My hips are wide”, “My nose is funny”, “my butt is too big”, “my butt is too little”, “my hair is straight”, “my hair is frizzy”, “I have thunder thighs”, … the list goes on and on! The way society portrays women these days is incompatible with reality. If you care that much about what society thinks of your physical appearance, ask yourself… What would society think of your spiritual appearance?

When we know Jesus as our Savior, we are more aware that each day brings us closer to that place where there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more death. Growing older for the child of God does not mean feeling useless and ugly. I believe it means growing up and maturing into a person whose true beauty becomes even more apparent. Growing older for a child of God is supposed to mean growing to look like God-----showing unconditional love, compassion and mercy.  Ask yourself, what is your true beauty?

Proverbs 3:7-8 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Unfortunately, addiction seems to hit several families these days. In Psalm 109, David describes the negative physical effects of his mental stress- - his thin and fragile body giving away, his physical strength worn thin. Sadly, we see people today suffering from the similar physical effects—but not only for a lack of food, but for mental reasons as well. Some women who are tormented by mental stress try to find comfort through what they eat—or don’t eat! Others take a good physical activity – (like exercise) and distort it. A disorder of any kind, left unchecked, can consume you. Get help! Talk to a trusted mentor, a Christian friend, or counselor. Never forget to pray for those struggling with addiction but always remember you cannot help someone who does not want to be helped. No matter how much you try, they have to want to change for themselves. Being addicted is simply a compulsive need for something . . . this could be alcohol, nicotine, heroin, etc. but could also be a compulsive need for anything causing negativity in your life. (How long can you do without checking your Facebook? Do you often find yourself ignoring family because you are scrolling the newsfeed? People joke of “being addicted to Facebook”… are some maybe serious?” --- )

Personally, I haven’t had much dealing with addiction but any input would be valued.. (if anyone would like to utilize the “sending a private message and posting as an “Anonymous Post” with a private story with addiction or struggles of a family fighting addiction I would completely understand.)

Psalm 109:26 says, “Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love.”

Do you have good balance in your life? Some women have the gift of serving others and they serve until they can’t stand up anymore. You might be one of those amazing women! You say to yourself, “I don’t have the time to rest” or “I don’t have the time to be sick”… but let’s face it ladies—although we seem to have super powers at times, we are still humans—our bodies do wear down, we get sick or just plain tired. That’s when we can ask the “big man upstairs” for help for he is the source of strength and healing. No matter how old we get.. Jesus will still be in the miracles business! And ladies let’s all keep in mind that there’s nothing wrong with finding the healthy balance by meeting your own needs so you can continue to meet the needs of others. (For example, as much as it felt like a kick in the face—for the sake of my entire family… I had to ask for more nursing help..  At first I felt like the more help I needed the less of a mother that made me.. Definitely not the case and I realize that but sometimes we, as women, always see the negative- and are too hard on ourselves.

One thing that’s certain about life is that.. It is uncertain! We know tomorrow is not promised. That is why is it crucial that we spend our time investing what really matters today (Ephesians 5: 15-16 says: “be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”). We must constantly remind ourselves of what is eternal and what is just temporary. Time clocks must be punched, dishes must be done, and laundry must be cleaned. However, the important thing that we all seem to forget is the people in our lives are far more important than running a business or having a perfect house. This week let us remind ourselves what is important, invest in your family. Eliminate a commitment or two that takes you unnecessarily away from your family. You need to set aside and protect ‘family time’.  In the madness of our lives, we have to plan QUALITY family time… IT WON’T JUST HAPPEN! ---- Take away the electronics and play a board game as a family this week!  Do you have a relative in a nursing home?—Take your family out to play a board game or talk about your childhood with your elderly family member… Let your children listen to what you did as a kid without an Ipad, Iphone, Internet, Xbox, etc.  

Discussion questions and more scripture to be shared on the discussion board in the next few days.

Feel free to email me at mickaylamcgovern@gmail.com  with any private discussions. I will respond as promptly as possible.