Thursday, March 26, 2015

Fitness Bands


At Christmas my wonderful husband gifted me with a Garmin fitness band. It's a handy little gadget for tracking daily steps, whether on walks with kids and dog or running household executive duties (indoor cardio, aka, hauling laundry up & down stairs, unloading groceries).  It's also connected me with others so I can be challenged to keep up my efforts and raise my goals.  How did I ever live without it???


This past month I've noticed how incredibly useful and motivating my fitness band has been in keeping me on track with my steps each day. Those annoying inspiring red dots flashing, reminding me I haven't moved enough in the past hour.

As parents caring for loved ones with disabilities, we are constantly on the go: kids that live on minuscule hours of sleep, therapist appointments, allergy appointments, healthy meals to cook, houses to clean, more therapy visits, juggling calendars for the rest of the family.  Whew! Some days we can rack up steps without too much effort.

Have you noticed, as caretakers, we too often place our needs at the bottom of the list? Sometimes, intentionally, as a servant; sometimes, with a tired, woe-is-me if-only-you-knew attitude.  Which ever the reason may be, we need to stop. We need to take a deep breath and just breathe. 

Try it right now. 

Oh, you thought I was just writing, not speaking to you...  At your desk, on your smart phone, wherever you are reading this: inhale slowly through your nostrils, 1-2-3-4-5; exhale, gently push air out of your mouth, 1-2-3-4-5.  BREATHE.  This time (if you're not on an airplane) stand up and raise your arms above your head as you slowly inhale, filling an imaginary balloon in your stomach.  Now push the air out as your arms fall to your side, releasing the tension.  When is the last time you did this?  Really?!? That long ago!

I came to the realization that I needed a spiritual "fitness band" on my wrist too: something that will remind me while my life is constantly on the move physically, I need to "slow down" spiritually; telling me that I needed to stop and pray, or sit and be quiet with Gods Word.

It is imperative as a caretaker that our tanks be refueled on a daily basis.  Our feet should never hit the floor in the morning without recharging our emotional and spiritual tank for the day.  Place a Bible next to your bedside stand so you see it first thing in the morning. Make a good choice with that smart device you own and download a free app such as the YouVersion Bible or Truth For Life devotional.  She Reads Truth is one of my favorite free apps!



Here's sage advice from Joel Belz of World Magazine: "The “mind of Christ” doesn’t get formed in an instant. It comes through lifelong disciplines. That’s why all of us need to be infused frequently—maybe even constantly—with the life-giving discernment of God’s special revelation in the Bible. Better to try to keep up your physical well-being without eating every day than to keep up your powers of godly discernment without daily recourse to God’s very words and instruction for His children. "

I challenge you to get your spiritual fitness band activated with me each morning. I'd love to hear how you are staying activated spiritually.

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Steadfast Love

Words filled with hope and promise to get us through each day, moment by moment.