She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. Proverbs 31:17 ESV
Exercise was the last thing on my mind in the flurry of activities of caring for my first husband, Bill. This is a common situation for full-time caregivers. It may seem like it is the last thing you can fit into your schedule. You are exhausted when fall into bed and then the cycle starts over again the next morning.
The verse I chose to add to this series is a fascinating one from the well-known Proverbs 31 woman. When it says she dresses herself with strength it means that she rolls up her sleeves and approaches her responsibilities with force as she is secure in who she is. The Hebrew word there also means praise. Put on praise every morning as you start the day. Raise your arms in praise and put on the strength that you will need for that day.
She makes her arms strong. This means to me that she does her part to increase her stamina every day. She is alert mentally and physically. She has the courage to face whatever lies ahead because she trusts in God’s good plan for everyone in her life.
Hope says that I have the courage to face today with energy and courage.
The best thing that happened for me in that season is that a neighbor and I started walking in a local park every morning. I took many pictures of the sunrise and reframed my perspective. It was a huge blessing that I have been able to continue until this day. Every day I grew stronger and rejoiced in the beauty of each one.
Active Self Nurture
Start today
Stop putting it off. Start small and increase as you gain strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. Fortunately, research suggests that everyday physical activities like walking and gardening are a great place to start. Even household chores can improve your health. The key is to increase your physical activity by exercising and using your own muscle power.
Start small
If the problem is finding a block of time for exercise, simply incorporate it into your daily activity. An ideal situation is the have the care recipient walk or do stretching exercise with you. If necessary, do frequent short exercises instead of those that require large blocks of time. Find activities you enjoy.
Stay consistent
It’s okay if you miss a day or two. Just get back into the routine. Set reminders on your phone or hold yourself accountable with a friend. Walking if a great way to start because it is easy and available. Besides its physical benefits, walking helps to reduce stress. Besides it’s okay to miss a day or two. If you can’t get away for a block of time, use the app on your phone to measure your steps. The recommended amount is 10,000 steps. Incorporate walking into your life. You’ll be glad you did.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the ability to choose to do something for myself today to take care of this wonderful body you have given me. I ask for wisdom to know when to take the break to exercise consistently. I choose to gain strength by praising you and increasing my energy. Your hope tells me that I can have the courage mentally and physically to rise above what seems to be overwhelming me right now.
In Jesus’ name. Amen
