GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES

Long time no see. Three weeks to be exact.

My excuse? It's just too far to walk the few steps from my La-Z-Boy recliner to my PC! (Most of you know I suffer from severe osteoarthritis and spinal lumbar stenosis.)

I'm praying for Divine healing, of course; but it finally got through my dense gray matter that "God helps those who help themselves!" I know that's not Scripture -- but don't you think it should be???

Eugene, an older gentleman from church who also suffers from physical problems, strongly believes in Divine healing and tells how God led him to follow some simple common-sense practices. One was to chew each bite of food thirty times before swallowing. Betcha mealtime conversation between him and wifey is sparse if he does all that counting! Then he felt he should drink 64-oz. water daily. Wow! Know how much that is? Eight 8-oz. glasses! Daily? I'd need to move my living quarters to the bathroom if I did that! But within a short time, Gene said his digestive problems disappeared!

"'Spose the Lord really DID tell him that?" I wondered. "Guess there's only one way to find out." Secretly I figured I'd prove him wrong and asked the Lord if there was anything I could do to help the healing process in my own life. "Chew your food more thoroughly," was impressed upon my mind loud and clear! At least the thought didn't contain the phrase "thirty times per bite." Of course, when I finish cooking steak, EVERYONE has to chew much MORE than thirty times to be able to swallow it! At least that saves me from counting!

"Drink more water," came another thought. Again I didn't hear anything about 64 ounces, thank goodness! But I'm trying. My physical therapist says I need to drink all the water I can as it helps lubricate the cartilage in my knees.

Hot on the heels of those two instructions came "And don't forget to eliminate salt." I almost gagged on that one. But know what? For two weeks I haven't used salt either in cooking or at the table -- for the most part, anyhow. (I did have to use a little on my pork chops the other evening, and so did my husband who NEVER uses salt, but it wasn't much.) And know what? My doctor was thrilled with how low my blood pressure was the other day!

But the worst was yet to come. Just two words, but oh, how my heart pummeled to the soles of my feet when I heard, "LOSE WEIGHT!" "No," my brain screamed. "I can't."

"How?" I flung back at the Lord. "I've tried unsuccessfully for years, and it's just no use."

I really didn't expect an answer, but the Lord knew I desperately needed one! "As late as you get up in the mornings," He seemed to say, "why not try eating two meals a day? That's what people did in Bible times." Hmmm, not bad, I thought, specially since I often don't eat breakfast until 11:30 am or 12:00 noon.

"Your breakfasts are well balanced," He continued, "with toast, cheese, a boiled egg and 1/2 banana." (Or was that the doctor who confirmed that?)

Did I dare ask God about my evening meal? I decided to chance it. "Chef salad, lots of it," came the answer. I'm talking about a small mixing bowl full, too, a mixing bowl that has anywhere up to sixteen different veggies and stuff in it including meat,a boiled egg, and sunflower seeds.

Before you chide me with YOUR ideas of a proper diet, let me say that my doctor approves of what I'm doing. Why? Because my heartburn has stopped and I don't need Prilosec any longer and also because I've lost ten pounds in just under two weeks!

No, I don't get hungry eating this way. I even sneak in a teensy-weensy piece of chocolate once in a while, too. (I've always been a chocoholic.) Now I'm able to walk more which means I can get back to more regular blogging!

Preacher's Kid

P.S. My research reveals that for every pound a person weighs, it's the same as five pounds every time the knees move. So if I'm fifty pounds overweight, that's 250 pounds extra per knee for every step I take! No wonder I can move more easily. Ten (my weight loss) times five equals fifty pounds less per step per knee! That sure makes walking a litttle easier!!

Hey, think YOU need to lose weight????? (Couldn't resist.)