the temple

Some Moms out there have a hard time with moms who work out or do something they love because some moms think it's selfish. Yes, there are some moms out there who always take it to an extreme. We have our days but most of us get through them and truly enjoy our kids. Do I look forward to the moments when I get a break from my kids? Yes. If me looking forward to the GYM while I drop my kids off in the childcare makes me a self absorbed Mom, well I guess should strip me of the Mother of the year award now because I have lost! I love my time away because I always, always come back refreshed.

I love those babies more than anything in this world. Some women I have come across have a hard time with the fact that I run as much as I do. Some think I'm selfish. Some how they have forgotten that I homeschool and do not drop my kids off at school. And no I am not saying dropping your kids off at school is bad. I'm just saying I have chosen to be with them ALL DAY long by choosing homeschool. Me walking out the door to go for a run is not something I feel guilty for. I make the time. Also I have a VERY supportive husband. Working out, exercising or going for a bike ride is what all Moms SHOULD be doing. The more you take pride in your health and your MENTAL health, the more refreshed you will be.

Taking care of my body has made me a better Mom and a better wife. It's a time when the Holy Spirit shows me constantly how I need to go back and ask for their forgiveness. It's the time when he shows me new things I can do in my home to add creativity to our days and nights. It's my time with God and while doing it, I get a healthy heart and mind. Heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, mental health issues and so much more runs on BOTH sides of my family and every single time I run, I decrease my risk for ALL of it.

Moms, you should be exercising and working on being healthy. Not so much to be a size smaller but to be healthy. You owe it your kids and to your spouse! Now there are some of you out there who have a special needs child and you can't necessarily go somewhere to work out. It may mean you take a stroller or you figure out a way to go outside for a walk by yourself when daddy is home. Even if it's just 30 minutes a day or every other day. It's worth it! I can't forget the Mom who works outside of the home. How is she supposed to work out when she works all day long and is away from her kids all day long? Thirty minutes a day is probably taken up by something else. Maybe computer or talking on the phone or something else that could possibly be cut. I promise you that God desires this exercise time for you and if it's something you desire, He will make it happen.

We strive for excellence in our home, in our schools, in our homeschooling, in our jobs, in our ministry and in our relationships. But what about our bodies?

Women are daily diagnosed with depression and quickly sent to WalMart to fill a prescription for zoloft or paxil. Sometimes it's needed and all the exercise in the world won't fix the chemical imbalance. But what takes place in the brain when you exercise is supernatural. The endorphins it releases can totally change a person's perspective.

I guess for me, I like to have men and women in my life who are striving for excellence on all fronts. I'm not talking about vanity and thinking someone needs to be perfectly sculpted and beautiful. I am talking about a man or a woman who strives to take care of themselves in every way. That is a powerful person. That is a person of influence. I don't long to be perfect. But I long for God to use me and use me to lead others to Him. How can I be more of an influence? How can I be more of an encourager? What can I do with my life to point others in His direction.

A dear friend of mine is trying to quit smoking. When I was single and going through a very difficult time, I began to smoke casually. I never became full blown addicted but I did enjoy it. Because I dabbled with it and smoked occasionally or when I became stressed, it is now something I crave every single time I have a bad day. I no longer give in. The running is not possible if you play around with smoking so I don't. But I understand the draw, the pull it has on a person. Walking outside, sitting on the back porch and smoking a cigarette as you disconnect from the world is a wonderful feeling. But not a healthy one! Last night I was talking to her about her mission to quit. She wants to soooooooooo bad! She wants to be healthy. She even wants to begin running on a serious level but this addiction will keep her from it. I found myself begging her to sign up for a race. I know how it will change her life. She knows it too! As I encouraged my friend last night, I found myself feeling so passionate about showing Moms how they can be healthy through exercise. Food is a part of it but dieting programs is a cop out if you can't find time to make your HEART healthy. Sure you can lose weight but exercise can actually bring healing to your body. It will change your life.

This is just something really heavy on my heart! I am not sure what God is going to use me for next but I pray God can use me to show other Moms how taking care of our bodies through exercise should be a priority.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New Living Translation)

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.