A Year of Abundance for Special Needs FamiliesSample

Day 5 – Body, Mind, Spirit

It is no secret to those closest to us that my husband and I are kind of passionate about health and fitness, but it wasn’t always this way. We enjoyed our fair share of lazy days and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos back in the day! But we’ve spent a solid 8 years learning what exercises we enjoy and how to make healthy eating practical for our family, because we quickly learned as special needs parents that we are in this for the long haul! Not only that, but the mental effect of exercise on depression, anxiety and overwhelm are incredible, and have helped us tremendously.

I often wonder why everyone wouldn’t tap into their body’s natural ability to create these happy chemicals, but I find exercise is often people’s last priority for the day. Usually because they feel that if they can’t give everything to dieting and exercise, then they may as well give nothing. But this all or nothing mentality is not only not sustainable, it is not the abundant life! It will leave you feeling like a failure, and you are not a failure!

Did you know studies are showing that a 15 min walk after each meal is more effective than one long 45 min walk? What’s my point? Little deposits add up! And here’s my spiritual component for you: God desires you to feel awesome – mind, spirit AND body. He created you to enjoy the undefiled food of the garden. He wanted you to relish in the feeling of a calm stroll with nature all around you. That’s how He designed it in the first place! Thinking that you have to kill yourself 6 days a week in the gym for 1hr at a time and eat only tofu is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about making small, compounded decisions that leave your body energized, your mind clear, and your soul at ease. Not so you can enter a body-building competition, but because God desires that you can endure the journey you’re on with strength.

Feeling energized is not for other people. It’s for you. Don’t try to think about throwing away all the food in your fridge this week (your kids will come after me). Start thinking about the one meal this week you’re going to make instead of ordering out. Decide that you’re not going to sit on the couch or scroll on your phone after lunch – take a walk around your block or place of work instead. You are investing little deposits into your bank of health. You are investing in the long haul. You are a person of holistic balance and abundance. You deserve to feel the fullness of God’s design for you, even in your body.