Partners in Parenting!

“Care for the Heart!”

Physical exercise is a great way to care for your heart.  Your heart is vital to life.  If your heart is not working well or operating at less than 100%, it will impact all areas of life.  The heart beats about 100,000 times each day as it pumps 1,600 gallons of blood over 60,000 miles of vessels.  Amazing!  God has made our hearts to give the rest of the body life through the blood it pumps.  Therefore, it is critical to care for your heart in order to get optimal productivity from it.  Exercise, whether it is walking, jogging, lifting weights, aerobics, tennis, or anything else that increases your heart rate, is beneficial.  I would challenge anyone who does not exercise regularly now to begin walking for 30-45 minutes four times per week.  The heart will benefit from this behavior.  The rest of your body will benefit as well. 

God knows the value of the heart.  He wants us to care for our heart in a way more valuable than physical exercise as well.  He wants us to open our heart to his Word so it can be filled with His love and the Holy Spirit.  Galatians 4:4-6 reminds us of this truth as Paul writes, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts…”  God values our hearts so much that he would send his Holy Spirit there to dwell.  Amazing!  His Spirit living in our heart should impact all of life just like the blood our heart pumps.  Blood is in the heart giving life to the body.  The Spirit is in the heart giving life to the body and to others.  Care for your heart by exercising it physically and spiritually.  Two simple ways are to go for a walk and read your Bible – challenge yourself to set a goal of four times per week for each.

Family Discussion Points!

Do members of your family need to physically care for their heart better?

Do you (parents) think it benefits your children if you care for your heart spiritually on a regular basis?

Discuss with the whole family what you want to do to care for your heart physically and spiritually – make a goal together.  Encourage each other to reach your goal long enough so it becomes a habit.