Wise Advice For A Healthy Life

Wise Advice For A Healthy Life

Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe. Proverbs 28:26

“My wife made me come in. She’s the one who thinks I need a checkup. I haven’t been to a doctor in more than twenty years, and I’m doing just fine. Nothing hurts, and I pretty much do whatever I want.”

Elmer’s body told a different story from the one he was voicing to me. He was fifty-three but looked sixty-five. He was fifty pounds overweight, and his blood pressure was elevated.

“Let’s get a medical history on you and run some tests, and then we’ll see,” I said. “Does anyone in your family have a history of diabetes, heart disease, or cancer?”

“Yeah, Daddy died of a heart attack when he was fifty-two, and my brother died last year of a heart attack. I think he was fifty-three. My momma had diabetes, but that was only ’cause she was fat like me.”

I could tell I had my work cut out for me. Elmer seemed blissfully unaware of the connection between the premature deaths of his close family members and his own prospects for long-term survival. And he was oblivious to his own body’s warning signs.

His tests for diabetes and cholesterol both came back abnormally high.

“Elmer, you’re not doing as well as you think you are,” I said, showing him the results. “You’re behind in your health care, and if you don’t change, you’ll likely die before you’re fifty-five. You have a lot of work to do. The good news is that, if you listen to me and work hard, you can fix a lot of this.”

“You’ve got my full attention, Doc. I’ve got kids that I want to see get married, and I want to be a grandfather one day.”

I prescribed medication for his blood pressure, his diabetes, and his cholesterol. We talked about how he needed to quit smoking and stop eating so much processed food. Elmer was obviously surprised by everything I said.

“Am I doing anything right?” he asked.

“Yes. You listened to your wife when she sent you in for a checkup. Be sure to thank her when you get home.”

TODAY’S RX

Seek wise counsel and follow the advice you’re given if you want to live a healthier life.

Help me to be obedient in all aspects of my life, Lord, by listening to my doctor’s advice, along with what your Word tells me. I desire to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit.