Power

Power

On Monday afternoon I picked up a few groceries at Aldis.  Even though they were only 99 cents a pound, I walked past the grapes (Note to Sharingglory newcomers:  Grapes are my nemesis.  I can easily graze through a pound—or two—in a day).  Now that’s not to say I didn’t look at them longingly and lovingly, BUT I didn’t succumb to placing any in my cart for purchase.  I made it home without any grapes in my bag.

            That wasn’t my power that strengthened me.  It was Holy Spirit power.

            That thought leads me to a sermon Fr. Tom Braak gave at a daily Mass a few days ago.  As he discussed addictions, he stated, “We cannot go it alone.”

            As far as I’m concerned, food addiction is just as real as alcoholism, drug addiction, shopping addiction, etc.  But we overeaters cannot give up food, for we have to eat; we must keep our Temples healthy  (1Cor. 6:19 NIV).

            Scripture tells us we “. . . can do all things through Christ who is our strength” (Phil. 4:13).  But Christ no longer walks the earth in person, so the Holy One sends beings with skin into our lives to help and support us. 

Through the years, I’ve received help within weight management groups, especially Weight Watchers and Overeaters Anonymous, from Bible study sisters, from Gloria’s blog posts and, of course, from the Holy Spirit.

            Who is your help and support?  Like Fr. Braak, I encourage each of us to reach out for help, to ask for help, whether it be to be held accountable, or for prayer and advice, let’s seek the help we need to keep our Temples healthy.

                                                                                                                                    Sharon Witty

Back to the Basics

In my efforts to be healthy, one of the top things on my ‘to do’ list is to eat well. It can be challenging if I don’t make a deliberate plan and stock the house with the right foods. I started by getting rid of all the bad, tempting, delicious, stuff in the cupboard, refrigerator and freezer. I have to admit, I ate most of it. 

Then I went to the store and stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruit became my new delicious treat.  For the past few months there has been a wonderful variety of awesome fruit: bananas, peaches, pears, apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, raspberries, blueberries, black berries and grapes! It is heavenly. We are so fortunate to have access to fruit almost all year long. 

Next, I stock up on veggies. Fresh crisp lettuce, spinach, celery, carrots, pea pods, cauliflower and broccoli bits, zucchini, cucumbers, and more are a great choice for a tasty snack. The key is to wash and prepare them, ready for snacking as soon as I get them home. If they sit in the bags in the frig, they won’t get eaten at the time I have a craving for something to eat.

Don’t forget to add in good protein. I like to cook up extra chicken breasts so there are leftovers to cut up and put on salads or as an entrée without the extra work. I also cook up hard-boiled eggs for a quick and easy taste of protein.

I’ve mentioned nothing that is new, but sometimes I need a reminder. It is easy to forget the options that are available, so I try to move ripening fruit to the dining room table so it can be eaten at its peak before it spoils.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple,” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NIV).

If we add in exercise our bodies will thank us. It is as easy as starting with a couple of cans from the cupboard as weights. Walk. Almost all of us can walk; even just around the house a few times will be beneficial. I try to do a little more every day. Our temples are worth the effort of time. 

Gloria D. Stewart

October 4, 2018