I just love chocolates! More accurately, I relish anything sweet. My motto has been “there is always room for dessert”. I don’t have a sweet tooth, more like sweet teeth. So it’s a struggle to be confined at home with all the goodies around. If I am not watchful I could waste this time of quarantine by becoming less healthy.
The Bible reminds us that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). One way we can glorify God is to keep our body healthy so we can serve Him more faithfully. A sickly Christian will be severely limited in serving God. Of course, those who get sick out of no fault of their own can and have served God faithfully.
While in quarantine, it is worth remembering that the law of supply and demand applies to our bodies as well. The food we consume supplies our body with calories while physical (and mental) activities spend those calories.
On the supply side, we must exert double effort to eat the right type and amount of food. In other words, good diet. If you are like me, I tend to overeat at home more than when I am in the office (hint: who is cooking?). Keeping a proper diet is therefore a must for me. The wise man of old may not be using hyperbole when he said, “put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite” (Proverbs 23:2)!
On the demand side, it is ideal if we can do some physical activity every day. I am blessed that I can walk around our village. Since the quarantine began, I walk 3km in the morning and 4km in the evening so that I spend around 500 calories every day (and walk at least 10,000 steps). I know that not all of us can do this. I am merely illustrating so that you can find what works for you where you are. For some, exercise could be gardening in their backyard, or doing indoor workouts.
The point is this: let us not waste this time of confinement by becoming more unhealthy. Rather, let us find ways to be even more healthy. Now is the time to develop those godly habits in eating and in exercising.
The words of the apostle John is apropos: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul (3 John 1:2).