I want to share with you my story and the reason for some very important changes in my life. I want to say right off the bat that I am not telling this story to boast or to offend anyone, but rather to help someone who maybe is struggling with their physical body.
I was born with a genetic condition called Spastic Paraplegia. This condition is not always genetic, but my great grandmother, grandfather had it and my mom and daughter both have it. All it means is that it is the deterioration of the muscles as you get older. I realize everyone's muscles deteriorate, but ours just do it a little faster then everyone else’s.
As a kid I never really let it bother me too much, I would play and run with all my friends as if there was nothing wrong and at that age it was a little less of an issue. I just got fired a little faster then the rest of the gang and I had no balance, so I couldn’t play ice hockey like I wanted to. That did not stop us from playing road hockey and in the winter there really wasn’t much difference than being on the ice. Sure was fun.
In 1992 I was in Bible School and there was a guy who claimed that God no longer healed or did miracles. I do not believe that. An evangelist was home visiting his family and was asked to preach a revival while he was home. He is well known for being used in the Gifts of the Spirit. I went one night to the revival to prove to this guy that God does indeed still heal and do the miraculous. God did not disappoint. I noticed a difference in how I walked the next day. I can’t explain it but I do not believe I received a full healing, but I do claim that I received a partial healing to the point that I was walking much different than I did before.
As time went on, unfortunately I did not take care of my body like I should have. I allowed myself to begin gaining weight. When I got married in 1995 I weighed in at about 210. This did not help me with my legs and being able to get around well.
Let me stop and just say for a minute that if you are asking Jesus for a healing in your body, He is more than able to do it, but if you are not willing to change your bad habits, He may not be willing to heal just to see you go back to doing the same thing again. This is why on a couple of occasions He told people He ministered to, to go and sin no more. One of these occasions was someone He had healed.
In 2013, we moved to Nashville, TN. When we left Minnesota I weighed about 230 pounds. After living here for two years I weighed 235 pounds. Yes, the food in the South is awesome.
In 2015, my mom began having a hard time breathing and I was concerned about her so Bonnie and I made a trip home to see her. Mom was about to turn 70 years old. I saw a lady who had congestive heart failure but also couldn’t move or get around very well on her own. As I watched this, I realized that in just another 28 years I could be in the same situation if I did not change my ways.
So, in the fall of 2015 I began the process changing some very had habits. I started walking more and trying, though not very successfully, eating better. In the summer of 2016 I had gotten down to 188 pounds.
Now comes the extremely hard problem. I gained about 24 pounds back. What I realized is that it is not really that hard to lose weight once you make up you mind to do it. It is more difficult to keep it off. You have to have a determination. So, I am now back down under 200 and plan on getting down to 180.
So, here are some take aways
1. God has given you a body and He expects you to treat it well and be faithful with it. For my Apostolic friends, as much as outward appearance is Holy worship to God, so is being healthy and taking care of your body.
2. You have to have a point that is a wake up call to you to get the weight off and be healthier.
3. You have to do more than just exercise, you have to eat right or eat less. You may have a favorite food, but you don’t have to be gluttonous about eating it. Have small amounts and savor it.
I am sure there are more, but these are the ones I have come up with so far.
I will be posting pictures on Facebook for the friends I have on there to see.
