It’s the beginning of another year and everywhere I look, I see signs about a “new year, a new you!” I don’t know about you, but I’m not a “New Year’s resolution-making person” (nothing against you if you are). I just figure, if I want to make a change, now is the best time to do so, no matter when in the year I happen to decide to change things.
But seeing all these signs definitely reminds me that so much of life really hinges on the choices we make, especially when it comes to health and wellness (inside and out). While we all have health issues to deal with that we can’t change (like my asthma, Celiac Disease, SAD, the heart disease that runs in my family, etc.), everything else about our health IS in our hands. If there is anything this past year has taught me, it’s that life is short. And I don’t know about you, but I want my short days on this earth to be lived to their fullest. The fact is, and always has been that the better we take care of our health, the more enjoyable our lives will be, and the better able we will be to fulfill our purposes here on earth.
One of the people I admire the most right now for not making excuses for the challenges he’s faced is Adrian Peterson. If you live in Minnesota, you must know who Adrian Peterson is. And for those of you who don’t, here’s a brief recap. He’s a running back for the Minnesota Vikings (that’s our football team for those of you still lost) who had MAJOR surgery just a year ago because he tore both his ACL and MCL. When his dad visited him in the locker room after the injury, he said to AD (we call him ‘All Day’ cause he can run all day), “this could be a blessing in disguise.” For those of you who know sports injuries, this could’ve been a career-ending injury. But not for AD. After his surgery, he kept working out and doing the things he could do, even though he wasn’t able to walk for a while, and certainly wasn’t able to play football for quite a while. This season, he came back stronger than he’d EVER been and came in 2nd for most rushing yards in the history of the NFL and is up for the Most Valuable Player award. All because he didn’t allow himself to be limited by his injury. He simply refocused his training efforts and focused on the things that he COULD do.
Did you know that in just three months, you can lose 36 lbs, you can get your cholesterol under control, you can lower your blood pressure, you can go down three dress sizes, you can set that appointment that you’ve been putting off for years, you can get that surgery taken care of, you can quit smoking, you can see that therapist you’ve been meaning to see for a while, and YOU can start taking control of your health and your life.
What would you be willing to give to have any one of those things happen in your life? Would you be willing to dedicate the next 90 days to making just ONE change that could lead to you being better able to live out God’s purposes for your life? Do not let the things you can control about your health limit your availability to be used by God. This life is too short as it is, and in three months so much can change! May these next 90 days of your life not be wasted! Focus on what you can control, and leave the rest in God’s hands.
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