Dear Family and Friends,

February is recognized as Healthy Heart month. In Proverbs, we are reminded that a cheerful heart is good medicine and that a person’s heart reflects the person ( 17:22; 27:19).

This month, I want to visit with you about Personal Responsibility and Your Health. Indeed, as we think about the contribution of our heart to our health we are struck with several insights: (a) there is a strong relationship between our actions and our true values, (b) we can change both our actions and our values, and (c) our health is intertwined...our physical health is affected by our emotions, values, and relationships.

How does Personal Responsibility affect our Health?  The media frequently discussed health and lifestyle topics. We pick up newspapers and read about someone suing a company for making a beverage too hot, for causing their lung cancer, or for making them overweight. The sad truth seems to be, that we can bring much (certainly not all) of our poor health on ourselves. In fact up to 60% of our poor health can be directly traced to lifestyle choices that we make.

What does God’s word Teach us about Personal Responsibility? We certainly do not want to give the impression that any or most diseases are the direct fault of the person, but rather that our Christian freedom encourages us to make healthy choices all day, every day. Certainly we can empathize with Paul, that the things we ought to do, we do not do, and the things we should not do, we do (Rom. 7:19).

Wesley Nurse…Do you any Suggestions for Me?? Of course, I have ideas that I hope you will help you in living well. Thanks be for asking! In taking our health responsibility seriously, I think it would be helpful if we…

*****Remember that our God is awesome, and He wants us to live and be well!!

*****Focused on what we CAN Do, not what we cannot do

*****Set small reachable goals and build in some rewards

*****Worked the words NO and LESS into our vocabulary ( supersizing our meals, also seems to supersize our diseases and health insurance bills!!)

*****Considered that our physical health is strongly related to nutrition choices, balancing rest and work, getting regular exercise, and stress management.

*****Healthy has always been more than physical, and we need to take responsibility for our emotional, relational, spiritual, and intellectual health too!!

If I can be of any help to you in living well, please contact me. I pray that your health journey is affirming, satisfying, and a blessing to you and your loved ones.

Your Wesley Nurse,

Tracy Kneiszel, RN