By now, I’m praying that you have some hope for your family. I’m praying you’ve been able to nourish your soul in God’s Word, and that He’s starting to reveal His plan for your family, with practical ideas on how to make it a reality.
I’ll be honest — your physical health is nowhere near as important of a priority as your relationship to God or your husband. However, when you and your loved ones are feeling well, it is easier to have a happy home. When you’re not as tired, it is easier to maintain a good attitude.
Not that feeling ill is an excuse to sin — to be grumpy, be anxious, or be angry. But when you don’t feel well, it’s more difficult, isn’t it? 🙂
When I talk about health, I am NOT talking about losing weight or going on a fad diet. I am not talking about pride when you look in the mirror, or frustration with yourself because you don’t look as good as when you were in high school.
Rather, I’m talking about fueling your body so that you have the energy you need to serve God in your family. I’m also talking about helping your husband feel a little better, and helping your children get the nourishment they need to grow.
Over the last couple weeks, you’ve been thinking about your schedule and how to make your home a little more clean and organized. Now I want you to consider what God says about your health in His Word, the Bible. (Don’t you love how practical the Bible is?)
Reading Assignment #1: “The Bible on Health”
I would like to welcome you to make time in the next year to visit my other website, Anne’s Health Place, and take some of my free courses on health and nutrition. In addition, if you struggle with fatigue and have trouble coping with everything on your plate because you’re just too tired, I encourage you to sign up for some of my upcoming courses on fatigue. (Click here for more information.)
For today, let’s just talk about a simple change. Do you have time to cook healthy, wholesome meals for your family. Here is an excerpt from Anne’s Health Place for you:
Reading Assignment #2:
I find it very amusing to watch commercials and see advertisements for food products. Ads are designed to make you feel dumb! Too dumb to cook (so that you’ll want to buy their stuff)! Too dumb to cut and chop, stir and bake! (Too dumb to teach your kids how to cook, either!)
Well, don’t listen to them! It’s no harder to make pancakes from scratch than it is to open up a box of Bisquick. It’s no harder to make a quick white sauce than it is to open a can of condensed soup.
You can do this! Here are some simple steps:
- When you make your shopping list each week, copy all prepared foods you’re planning to buy onto a duplicate list that you keep in a binder for this purpose. Maybe you’ll add “Hamburger Helper, “Stovetop Stuffing,” or “Manwich Sloppy Joes” to the list this week.
- This list will serve as a “wish list” for you. Over time, you’ll make a list of recipes that you want to begin to learn to make from scratch.
- Each week, set aside one day to learn to cook something new from your list.
- Before your cooking day, search the Internet, favorite cookbooks, or our website here for a recipe. Be sure you have all needed ingredients in the house.
- Try your new recipe! Be warned — maybe you’ll flop a few recipes like I do! Write notes on the recipe so that you’ll know how to improve it next time. In a few months, you’ll never remember why you used to buy boxed foods.
It’s not hard, really. It’s more about being brave enough to try, courageous enough not to procrastinate, and disciplined enough to try something new.
Why cook food from scratch? How will that simplify your life? Well, in all honesty, it might not! But you’ll feel better. You’ll be eating real food, food that God created rather than “products” that mankind has manipulated and possibly harmed. Your body will recognize it as food, and you’ll soon be “operating” better.
So a step that might add a little more work and time to your schedule will also increase your energy and good health. In addition, you’ll find that you’re spending more thought on your family and probably sitting down to meals more often together. These are all excellent steps in the right direction.
That’s it for today! Bon appetit!
