August 29, 2013 - Monday's Punching Bag

Good morning to everyone, I am really glad that it is Thursday. LONG week - how about you? I am so thankful for Labor Day is right around the corner with one extra "sleep in." YEA! I pray that you are planning your meal well and remembering that everyone at your gathering NEEDS to be healthy. It's amazing that age plays no favorite in our journey. Just recently my mother has decided to really work on getting healthy and she is 78. I was so pleased while on vacation to shop with her and have her read labels and choose differently from the menu. Normally our trips are FILLED with sugared products and tons of salty things. This time she would pick something up and realize how much salt and sugar it contained and we would put our heads together and start talking thorough alternatives for her card club. I told her that as soon as she starts taking healthy things, she will be amazed at the results! People are more likely to eat healthy if taste is a priority and it SOOOO can be. We know that - right? Just takes some effort, some creativity, and lots of dedication to be healthy regardless. Being with mom proved to me that no matter our age, choosing health is definitely an option. Being healthy is like our faith sometimes. I have found it's easy to be healthy or trust God on the mountain top. When all the days activities line up, the healthy components are easy to tackle. When life is "being good" trusting God and standing on our faith is no problem. But how many of you know everything gets tested? Our resolve and commitment sometimes endures daily testing. True that! WHY? Because when tested it has an opportunity to grow and strengthen. It's like working out. None of us particularly enjoy running miles or lifting weights daily, but our muscles respond to being "torn" during this procedure. They immediately jump to the process of strengthening within hours. This is often true of our resolve. Being healthy is never going to be easy for those of us, like me, who were food addicts. I sowed many years into a bad journey and when my resolve is tested, occasionally my flesh wants to "offer" a solution from my past. At that point I have a choice. Choosing to fight for the truth of being healthy NEVER means I won't be tested again. I wish it did. However, I find that the "answer" offered from my past becomes less attractive the longer I walk this health journey. That voice from my past becomes ever so faint. Saying "no" gives me an immediate boost of faith and confidence. How about you? Saying "yes" to those cravings and obstacles on the path never brought me to the place that fighting for the NO did. As you approach the holiday, be prepared. Testing is on the way. Plan ahead to not let excuses of age, past failures, "it's just one meal," or any other obstacle force you into a place where regret will be your Monday evening punching bag. Let's punch this bag ON THIS SIDE and prepare the chicken breasts for the grill with all the veggies and watermelon we want. And, instead of baking the brownies, how about we decorate the watermelon basket in something fun that will bring an "ahhhh" from the crowd. The punching bag is up...hit it now and not Monday night. Love you, PK