Christmas is filled with yummy treats. But when it’s over, I’m done with all the sweet, rich, heavy stuff. My body is screaming for a lighter nutritious fare. In January I think about my health.
I’m 50 years old now and my body is changing again. Each decade has had its own physical challenges. Until recently, I’ve had the mindset that I could get my health in shape again if I eat the right foods and exercise. But think about it, is this true? As Christians, we have to recognize that God has already numbered our days before we’ve lived even one of them.
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalms 139:16 ESV
Our bodies change with each decade. There is a purpose for each decade of our lives—a rhythm of life. First, we are babies, then children and teens. During this time, our bodies are growing. Then many find a mate, have children, and raise their families. In this phase, we have the health and energy to give to our children. In the next season of life, we experience some losses. A loss of some energy and vitality. Our bodies are not absorbing as many nutrients as they did during our younger days. But we don’t need as much either. We don’t have the day-to-day responsibility of family life. Still, our goal remains to feel good and take care of ourselves.
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalms 90:12 NLT
As we age, we experience more critical issues. Many are concerned about blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and pain. Food and exercise help, but it’s not everything. Even so, we do our best to make every bite count and every sip count.
Learn to manage well the health you have been given. Have systems in place to help you live a healthy life at any age. Don’t worry about what others do; develop your own health goals with God’s help and your doctors. Have realistic goals. The goal is not perfect health. That is elusive. Have good health. Make healthy choices.
Our minds may be racing trying to figure out what we must change to look and feel better. Sometimes our health issues can be overwhelming. I encourage you to remember this phrase from the Bible, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. Choose to be still before God for a few moments.
Then say, “It is well with my soul” Say it out loud.
The more you accept these changes, the easier it will be on your mental health and less stress on your physical health.
“A time to be born and a time to die.” Ecc. 3:2 NLT
You see, because the world has tried to make us believe we can stay young, everything is aimed at looking younger or feeling more youthful. Life is a beautiful cycle God created. It’s okay to look older and it’s okay to be older. The older we get, the more we prepare to leave this life in this world. We are promised life is even better in heaven.
Blessings to you and your health,
Kim
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I’m thankful for your perspective on aging. We are told in God’s word the outer man perishes but the inner man get stronger, and that we can bear more fruit in our aging than in our youth.
I agree. I, too, believe that we can bear more fruit later in life than when we are younger. We’ve had time to sip up refreshing water from God’s wisdom, and our faith is more secure.