Our Body Is A Gift

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Balancing on my left foot, I maneuvered the sock between two toes of my right foot and slowly angled my leg upward until I could snag the dangling sock with my hand. Success!

I first learned this dubious skill more than two decades ago. After breaking vertebrae in my lower back in a car accident, I spent the summer wearing a brace that covered my torso and supported my spine. As a result, I couldn’t bend over. So when things fell on the floor—whether they were clothing items or something else—I used my toes to retrieve them. The improvisation allowed me to do more tasks on my own.

Before then, I’d always taken my mobility for granted. Even now, it’s not something I notice all that often—I can usually bend, lift, walk, and move without discomfort. It’s only when something isn’t working as it should—when my back is too sore from lifting, or my foot falls asleep and tingles when I try to step on it—that I think to be grateful for my physical abilities.

The idea that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit probably isn’t new to you. People often mention it when they talk about choosing to eat healthily or avoid certain habits, but I think the concept applies to more. Because when we choose to be thankful for our body’s ability to do things—without comparing it to someone else’s ability—we honor God. Instead of focusing on what we don’t like about ourselves—the aches and pains we might have, or the parts that aren’t functioning well—let’s consider what works. Thanking God that our lungs utilize oxygen, our heart can beat on its own, and our brain can think or pray are ways to honor him for the gift we’ve been given.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend time thanking God for all the things your body can do.