Your gift of health

Have you ever thought about how the health choices you make could impact not only you, but also your family, friends, and community?

At MMA, we believe that our health – as well as our time, money, talents, and relationships – are gifts from God. How we manage them is how we thank God for these gifts.

Doing good with what you’ve got
Ok, so we’re not all athletes who have the ability – or the time – to work out several hours a week. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to be healthy and have a balanced lifestyle. Think about ways that you can make healthy changes in your life, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, choosing flavored water over soda, or talking to your doctor about what illnesses you’re at risk for. It doesn’t matter where you start – everyone has different health needs. But by starting somewhere, you’ll definitely see the rewards!

Think about how you balance everything
Taking time to manage your health will inevitably impact your other gifts and resources, especially time and money. Going on a quick jog around the block not only takes energy, but also takes time. Filling a prescription will influence your health status, but will also influence your wallet. Achieving a good balance of all your resources is important. Here are a few tips for managing your health while also balancing your other gifts and resources:

• Receive preventive care. Don’t forget to go in for your regular exams – they help with early detection of illnesses and disease.
• Communicate. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions.
• Be practical and realistic. Don’t go to the emergency room if it’s not an emergency. A visit to your doctor’s office the next day will suffice and be cheaper. Of course, the opposite is also true – if it truly is an emergency, then go to the emergency room!

Know that your decisions affect others
The way you manage your health and other gifts can impact others. If you’re sick, you can’t meet your commitments, like going to class or work, attending church events, or volunteering at the local soup kitchen. On the other hand, the people around you might also reach out to help you – your friend might tell you what the homework assignment was, your coworker might fill in for you, people from your family or congregation might take time bring you food. It’s important to recognize that we’re all interconnected with each other – much like how our gifts from God are also interconnected.