I'm up once again earlier than I'd like to be. 24 hours ago I was trying to fall back asleep after Isaac threw up next to my bed, and all the way to my bathroom. It was so gross, and the stank unbearable so I had to get out my carpet cleaner and take care of the situation at 3:30am before it was too late in the morning. Consequently last night I was exhausted....We started watching a movie together as a family and I fell asleep on the couch. My throat is killing me and between going to sleep to early and the pain, I woke up at 4am and just couldn't sleep anymore.
As I lied in bed, I contemplated why our family has been sick for two plus weeks. I kept wondering where I went wrong, where I stopped being vigilant about washing hands, about always cleaning the store carts before letting the kids sit inside, about making sure we were eating healthy. It's amazing how these little things that seem so basic, and unimportant make the greatest difference in how quickly we can go down with a fever or feel healthy almost always. I even heard on the radio about 3 weeks ago (last time I went to the gym), a report on NPR about a study proving that people who workout at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes are 30-40% less likely to get sick. I found that very interesting and it struck a cord with me.
While I was thinking about all this, another thought came to me, (and this is why I love our brain and memories by the way). Quickly I recalled a bishop I once had, I was back in his office in the HFAC at BYU, and he asked me how I was doing with my scripture study. I remember telling him that at that moment it wasn't perfect, that I would read once in a while but not daily. And he said, "Renatha, I know that you are an active girl, and that you like to work out a lot." I replied that it was true and that at that time I was doing the Body For Life Program, I was at the gym 6 days a week, eating super healthy and had never felt better physically.
He looked at me and said "Renatha, you need to start looking at reading the scriptures daily and praying as a workout. What happens if you stop working out?" I said: "I don't grow muscle, my current muscles will probably atrophy and turn into fat, I won't be as fit as I am now." He wisely asked:"What do you think happens to your testimony of the gospel when you don't work out spiritually?" I thought, "hmmm, he's teaching me a lesson here...."My spirit and testimony will atrophy and I won't have spiritual muscle". My bishop smiled, I think he could tell a light bulb turned on in my head.
Not to say that I've been perfect on following his counsel, but I have never forgotten that lesson. During times when I'm more proactive in reading my scriptures, I also happen to write down a LOT of whisperings that come to me, I listen to beautiful and inspiring music, and I literally feel that infamous Armor around me. I see a noticeable difference in my levels of patience with my children and my husband, I let things roll off my back much easier, and I feel strengthened. On the other hand, when I'm concentrating too much on myself and my desires, my precious time alone with my thoughts or photography or whatever, and lack to read my scriptures and spend more time conversing with the Lord, I feel weak. I feel like my spiritual immune system is ready for a virus attack or worse yet, a bacterial infection that will only go away with some strong dose of spiritual antibiotic. Boy...those are so hard to administer to myself. It would be so much easier to go to my spiritual doctor, but fortunately for me I know that I was given the role of being my own nurse practitioner. I have become my own Primary Care Physician, and the Lord my Specialist. I have to do the job of referring myself to Him, so he can take care of the worst illnesses.
The need for a spiritual workout routine is immense, and currently I'm failing at it. I need to go back to my routine because "it", is the only thing that helps me stay sane, that helps my spiritual muscle grow, and consequently that helps me keep my spiritual reflexes at their sharpest. When sickness comes, those reflexes often push the sickness away, and sometimes even before I even notice it was a threat. We all need a spiritual workout routine. The same way that working out our body causes it to produce endorphins that aids us in our health and good mood, so does a spiritual workout produce the same type of stimulation. As I sit here writing this, I'm recommitting to my spiritual workout and to my physical workout. I know I'll be getting better soon, both physically and spiritually, and I hope my little family can get better too.
AMEN! U are awesome!
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