Phil Parham (20 page)

The Bible says that the nation of Israel was given the choice between life and death, a blessing and a curse (Deuteronomy 11:26). What does that mean for us? Like the people of Israel, we can make good choices or bad ones. We can make healthy choices or unhealthy ones. If you think about it, every time we make a choice that is good for our body, we are making a statement that we are choosing life.

I don't always make the right choice. I have been known to mess up sometimes. And I can't blame anyone else when I don't do the right thing because I made the decision. I can't blame my mom, dad, sister, brother, or friends when I don't eat right, exercise, or drink water. When it's all said and done, the only one who has the power to change and make good choices is me. The ability to choose is so powerful. We are ultimately the one in control of what we choose to do with our lives.

When we choose to eat healthy and be more active, we are making the choice to have a healthier life. Our parents can't make the choice for us because we have been given that responsibility.

So tell yourself who's the boss (you are!). Make the right choices and choose life. And parents, make sure you make good decisions before you tell your children to make them. Practice what you preach.

1. Who has the power to make choices in your life?

2. What are some good choices you make every day?

3. Can you blame your parents, teachers, or friends when you make bad choices that have bad results?

When you buy a snack, make sure you read the label on the package. The label will guide you as to whether it is a healthy choice.

A Word from Amy

Has your mom or dad ever told you that you needed an attitude adjustment? Maybe they said it when you were grumpy or disobedient. Do you know that you have the power to decide whether you're going to have a good or bad attitude? You can choose whether you look at things positively or negatively.

If you see a glass filled halfway with water, do you view the glass as half-full or half-empty? Your outlook holds a clue to your attitude. I love the saying that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. We may not be able to always change the world we see around us, but we can change the way we see the world.

My son Rhett, who is autistic, is one of my heroes. All of his classmates and teachers can tell you that there is rarely a day where he is not the happiest and most excited person in the room. He wakes up early every day, even on Saturday, with a big smile on his face. I watch him and sometimes wonder what it must be like to be so carefree. To watch the joy he has for the simple things in life is no less than a gift.

Our attitude truly makes all the difference. In this journey to get fit and healthy, make sure you keep a good attitude. If you do, you are guaranteed to be more successful. You can do it. I know you can. And parents, guide your kids in having a positive attitude. You are their best teacher.

1. Why should we keep a good attitude?

2. What are some “attitude adjustments” you might need to make?

3. How can your attitude make a difference in your journey to get healthy?

Counting your blessings is a great way to change your attitude from negative to positive. You might even want to make a list of all the blessings in your life.

A Word from Amy

One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Have you ever played basketball and found yourself shooting the ball the same way over and over? Even though you didn't make a basket the first five times, you expected it somehow to go in on your sixth attempt.

Good health doesn't come by continuing to do the same old things that don't work. You have to make changes that cause you to be healthy. You can't eat pizza, candy, and chips every day and not expect to eventually pay for it with your health. Mark my words, you will have to pay for your bad choices. If you want things to be better, you have to decide to make them better.

Good health begins with the “want” to change. Then you need to take the steps to improve your life. If you're not being as active as you need to be, get moving. If you're eating too much junk food, eat natural foods instead. I spent many years making wrong choices, but once I decided to make the change, I knew I had to learn from my mistakes and do better. I had to come to the point where I wanted to change, and I had to do it for myself.

It takes desire, courage, and strength to start walking somewhere you have never been before. The journey toward health begins with you realizing you have to take the first step. Mom or Dad, I challenge you to take that first step so you can lead your child in taking her first step.

1. What is the first step in making a change?

2. How might mistakes become valuable teaching tools?

3. What is the definition of insanity cited in today's reading?

Tip of the Day

Think about the seasons of the year and how they change. Think about how people grow and change. Write down a few changes that you have experienced in your life and changes that you would like to see happen.

A Word from Amy

Can you remember a time when you just didn't want to do something? I know I can. I had the hardest time getting out of bed this morning at 5:00 for my daily run. I just didn't want to do it. It was way too early. Then when I went outside, I thought it was too cold. Then as I started to run, all I could think about was how hard it was to breathe. Then my leg started to hurt. Everything was bothering me, and my body and mind were trying to get me to stop. But I knew I had to do it, and just like the Energizer Bunny, I kept going and going and going. And I ended up having one of the longest and best runs I've had in a while.

As I was getting close to the end of my run, the song “Yahweh” by U2 came on my iPod. The song talks about how pain precedes the birth of a child. In other words, there is always struggle before a great victory. When I heard that song, I felt the runner's high. It gave me the strength to push myself to finish my run. Endorphins and good feelings washed over me, and I felt a sense of accomplishment.

Why do we have to struggle to succeed? I don't know. But I do know that it is always the darkest before dawn. The breakthrough will come if you don't quit. Keep going toward your goals. Don't ever give up and quit.

1. Was there ever a time you forced yourself to do something and afterwards felt great about it?

2. What are some challenges that can make you stronger?

3. Why should we never quit when challenges come?

Try running really fast for 10 minutes. It will probably be hard while you're doing it, but just wait and see how great you feel when you're finished.

A Word from Amy