It's 9 A.M. here. So far this morning I have made breakfast after waking up 3 tired kids, solved the problems of the world ("Mama, I've lost my library book again!"), brushed and pony-tailed 2 heads of hair, wrangled my own hair into submission (bad hair day....again), and washed a load of socks. This is no different from the morning that you had, right? Now, there is a list on the kitchen counter calling for my attention. Call for an eye doctor appointment. Buy snacks for school. Sweep the fur balls from the upstairs hallway. There are tasks left from Monday I haven't completed. Nowhere on that list is "must exercise today" listed. Unfortunately, that seems to be something I fail to put on the list.
There are many reasons why that one item fails to make it to the "to do" list. For one, when caring for several other people and a dog somehow the whole exercise thing just doesn't get priority. I can't finish everything on the to do list as it is, so why make myself feel guilty by adding something I know probably won't actually get done anyway. It will only leap from the page, screaming and taunting me. Not to mention the fact that I think exercise stinks. Never once have I felt a rush of endorphins. Must not be doing it right. Tomorrow I'll absolutely exercise. Maybe.....
Earlier this week I had a little revelation that may just change this pattern for good, or at least hopefully help me start a new habit. I began beating myself up once again for the fact that I haven't exercised all week. I just seem to lack the motivation. Then I began to wonder why should I exercise? I'm a decent weight, I feel pretty good, and I don't really have any major health problems. Then it hit me. Because God asked me to. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 discusses our bodies as a Temple for the Holy Spirit. It also says that our bodies to do not belong to us and we should honor God with them. It is specifically discussing sexual sin, but I think the rule still applies. If I don't stay healthy, am I honoring God? Am I using this body to do the work that he has called me to do, which is to take care of my family and minister to others? Oh, I might for a while but eventually I will get sick or deal with health problems because I didn't keep the Temple in tip top shape. Not to mention the fact that I will likely be irritable and less able to love those around me. I've often thought because I have so much to do I can't make time to do this for myself, I'm too busy putting others before myself. In reality failing to exercise has turned out to be selfish on my part. It is not serving others or God. So today I choose to serve God by exercising. I'm starting small, maybe a 15 minute walk. Will you join me?
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