Picture in the public domain.
Vern and I speed walked and jogged this evening before sunset. At the end of the pavement, where our road becomes gravel, we turned for the mile walk home and within seconds a strong head wind transformed our activity into something more like total body resistance training. The more I stick to my exercise commitment, the more I admire those of you who’ve been doing this for years. This get your body movin’ movin’ movin’ thing is tough. Especially since it’s not in my DNA to enjoy a consistent routine over a length of time.
“…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”–Romans 5:4
Although the apostle Paul was writing about persecution, the Romans 5:4 principle can apply to lots of things, such as working out several days a week, eating healthy, and other mundane or difficult tasks that we faithfully do in order to be well body, soul, and spirit. For me, staying on an exercise routine takes a great deal of perseverance. Sometimes, I’m an unwilling participate who needs encouragement to get moving. For instance, tonight Vern practically dragged me away from my comfortable seat in front of the warm and cozy fire to join him on a walk. Boy! It’s amazing how fast attitudes can change. As soon as we neared the first mile, I was grateful for his cheerful enthusiasm and that he had prodded me to join him. Why did my silent grumbling change to appreciation at the mile marker? Because I had hope of completing the two-mile walk. Perseverance builds character, and character builds hope. In the original language of the Bible, hope is defined as a confident expectation. Hope is a powerful tool to keep you moving forward in your commitment to complete something that’s worthwhile. Including exercise in your week will require some perseverance. You’ll have days when you’d rather sit on the sofa with a good book than get up and follow along with an aerobics instructor for thirty minutes. Or walking for twenty minutes may seem like a real drag when the weather’s not ideal. But have hope, and stick to your commitment. Just as Vern prodded me to join him for a walk, this article is an encouragement from someone who cares about your health. Have hope. Expect good results. And get up and get going. Just like me, you’ll be glad you did. Wishing you wellness in every way, Pamela