Everyone knows that you need food to nourish our bodies. What can be debated is what kind of foods to put into my body, after all there are a lot of foods that taste so yummy but are simply not good for me. I have unfortunately not heeded my own wisdom for this past winter season, as I have regrettably noticed my waistline's response. I can't say that I haven't enjoyed it, the big thanksgiving dinner and the ham and all the goodies during Christmas and new year feasts. Well truthfully my doom is more related to the steady diet of potato chips and double stuff oreo's and junk food that I have enjoyed with my kids.

Well, last week my wife and I decided that as parents we had gotten off track in our duties to provide our children with proper nutrition, wisdom that at one time we clung to rigorously. Oh, when I thought about it, the how we got here wasn't hard to figure out. Life gets busy and fast and demanding, and in those moments we abandon sound wisdom. When you combine the fact that its easier and faster to grab the pre-packaged and pre-cooked with the financial ease of grabbing a bag of chips that cost 99 cents compared to a bag of apples that cost a couple of bucks.. well the rest is history as they say.

Well, I'm thinking there are other parents reading this who can relate, especially to the biggest dilemma of this situation. We are faced with the challenge of getting our kid's off the sugary junk food appetite to a healthy and good for you one. Making the switch from chips and cookies to fruits and veggies ...AH! The joy of parenthood! Somewhere my mom and dad are smiling, well as of this writing, they are both taking to the switch better than anticipated. The day we made the announcement, Sean had two whole bananas in one sitting and Connor had an orange. Well, somewhere lost in this story of mine is a very good spiritual application, perhaps you already figured it out.

The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 1 Tim 4:6 that to be a good minister of Jesus Christ, we need to be nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine. Everyone knows that are spiritual bodies need nourishment, but as I stated earlier the debate comes down to what kind of food do I give it? My enemy the devil wants to give me junk food.., bags of chips and double stuff oreo's. and honestly when life gets busy, fast and demanding, I often forget what true spiritual nourishment is.

Paul makes it clear that the only nourishment we need is in the Scriptures. That nourishment leads to growth and feeling good and healthy! When I don't heed that wise counsel, I settle for the same pre-packaged junk that Satan has been peddling for years. The problem with that is if I get hooked on that junk, it becomes harder and harder to break away, causing me to become spiritually sick and one step closer to lost!! I really do want to eat healthy so I can be fit and feel good, but more importantly I want to be spiritually healthy. It is essential that I nourish myself with the precepts in God's Word, this will help me to grow and to be strong. It will also give me the full armor of God and will help me keep my guard up! I think it's a good question to ask ourselves.. .how healthy am I'?.... Just a little food for thought!

Eric