Decide to Be Healthy



Decide to be healthy.

Pray to God every day for good health.

Take health as your sacred, God given duty.

Make no room whatsoever for the slightest thought of sickness.

Encourage your trillions of faithful little cells through joy, happiness and confidence.

Thank them, talk to them, sing to them.

Let no foul air, food or liquid poison you.

Let no anger, anxiety or bitterness enter you.

Wake up every morning with gratitude for your resurrection and repeat ten times:

"I am the happiest and healthiest person on earth."

Repeat it again before you sleep.

Close your eyes and think of God, good health and happiness.

And thank your Father in heaven who has given us a body never to be sick, a mind never to be dull, a consciousness never to be empty, and a spirit full of the heavens and of the Earth.

Dr. Robert Muller

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.         

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I Love to Laugh!

Laughter is good for your soul--and your body!

 ©iStockphoto.com

When was the last time you had a really good laugh?  I LOVE to laugh!  I always have.  Something catches me, and I can chuckle, giggle, and laugh right out loud for the rest of the day, maybe two or three days.  It doesn't take much.  My landlord loves to stop by with his latest joke.  Now these jokes are old, most of them, and sound very similar to the ones I heard when I was teaching school from the kiddos, but he is so excited to tell them and, just like those kids, he waits with anticipation to get my reaction.  He always looks so pleased when I laugh (and I always do). 

I can't imagine living life without a sense of humor.  We all know those people who very seldom smile, let alone laugh.  It's like they're afraid their faces will crack or something if they smiled.  I actually had a lady that told me, many years ago, that she didn't smile because it made wrinkles.  Well, good!  Then when people look at your face they can see how happy your life's been.  (At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

I recently watched a video from YouTube with a baby who laughed because her father was tearing paper.  Now, I didn't find the paper-tearing humorous but it sure was fun to watch that baby!  I watched it several times and I still giggle when I think about that baby giggling and laughing. 

You know, laughter really is good medicine.  It can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity.  There are even laughter yoga clubs now. I had to check them out.  Dr. William Fry, well-known research scientist from Stanford University scientifically proved that 10 minutes of healthy laughter is equal to 30 minutes on the rowing machine. Laughter is the best cardio workout. As an exercise it has similar benefits as compared to other aerobic activities like jogging, dining, swimming, and cycling. Laughter Yoga is ideally suitable for people who cannot walk, have no time to exercise like business professionals, and those who are bedridden.

So, look at all the therapy I've had over the years!  And it was free!  What could be better?  OK, so I have some wrinkles around my eyes...just a few, but the positives far outweigh the negatives and the best part is, it's just fun!  Isn't that the important part?  Remember, it's the only life we've got.  We can choose how we face each day.  Find the humor; laugh at something, laugh at nothing!  It's good for you!

Gifts

You know, gifts come in all sizes, shapes and forms.  There is the gift of sunshine.  We have that gift today and it's a real blessing after the last few days (and days and days) of clouds and bad weather.  We live in Nebraska so it's understood that we will have those cloudy, bad weather days in January and February, but they really make you appreciate the gift of sunshine when it comes! 

There is the gift of love from family and friends.  Sometimes this comes in unexpected forms and you're taken back, totally, by the generosity of it all.  Sometimes it comes on the end of the line, whether it's the phone line or the internet line, and just knowing that someone is out there and cares is all the gift you need.  Sometimes it comes in the form of family jumping in to make sure that you get the moving truck unloaded and things get settled in your new place.  Sometimes it's just looking at their pictures around the house and knowing that we're all tied together in lots of ways.

There is the gift of health.  We certainly can appreciate that.  As my son battles a little chest cold we are able to thank God that it's just a cold and that we are healthy and strong.  All of us. 

There is the gift of the life lessons that God places in front of us each and every day.  Yes, these are gifts although they may not feel like gifts at the moment we are learning them. 

I thank God for all of these gifts and more today!