Moderation

I could've easily titled this post "Temperance", but the definition of "Moderation" fits well with what I desire to share in this post. 

A clear definition of the word moderation is: the quality of being moderate; restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses; temperance.

So far, I've written on six important things pertaining to health: 

Water

Rest

Sunshine

Fresh Air

Exercise

Nutrition

I've heard some people call those things the six best doctors. I like that! However, I don't think that list is fully complete without mentioning two more, one of them being what this post is about. 

One might not think of moderation or temperance as being another major or important element in regards to health, but I believe it most definitely is.

Sunshine, for example, is something that is very good for us and is something that our bodies need to function well. However, too much sun can be a bad thing. I think that any child (or their mother) enjoying direct sunshine for too many hours on a warm, summer day outside, learns this lesson very quickly. I remember getting extremely sunburned one time as a girl, and I was miserable for a day or two after that. 

Getting sunburned is easy to do, especially on a hot, summer day at the beach! 

A few years ago, I attended the funeral of a dear, homeschooling mom of seven children that our family knew. Sadly, she died in her 50's, and her youngest child hadn't even graduated from high school yet. My heart went out to this woman's family.

During her memorial service, close friends and family shared special memories of her. Many of the stories and memories were very precious to listen to, hearing how this woman reached out and ministered to many people, often within the walls of her own home. I was very touched and inspired. One woman, a long time friend of hers, relayed a memory about when they were young ladies, sitting outside, sun bathing for hours. If I recall, she said they would spend so much time in the sun, they would get extremely burned. (perhaps hoping to get a tan?) I think she said this happened frequently. The audience laughed as the woman shared their lack of discretion as young woman having fun in the sun, but I didn't find that story quite as funny. Why?   

This woman died from skin cancer, also known as melanoma. 

Did she die an early death from spending too much time in the sun? I don't know, but I couldn't help make a connection. Not all skin cancer comes from the sun, but many times, it does. 

I have a friend with naturally darker, more tanned skin tone, and she loves the sun! She had skin cancer years ago before I knew her, but she caught it in time. Sadly, she had an area of skin removed because of that spot. Thankfully, she is completely fine today, but she says that she can't spend time outside in the sun like she used to. She also said that she learned the importance of being adequately covered with clothing to prevent that from happening again. Hearing her share that with me reminded me of an added blessing of dressing modestly as God tells us to do in His Word. Being appropriately covered protects us from getting too much sun. 

Moderation is very much needed when spending time in the sun! 

Another area where moderation is needed is with food. God's Word specifically mentions this in Proverbs 23. 

Growing up, I was glad that my mom taught us to never judge a person by their size, whether large or small, because we do not know what that person has gone through. My mom taught us that the most important thing about anyone was their character, the person they were, not their weight or size. 

However, my mom did teach us that the Bible mentions something called gluttony which is over eating, and this is wrong. This is what Proverbs 23 mentions in several verses. 

My mom taught us that eating until we were satisfied was a good place to stop. That can be difficult to do sometimes, especially when something incredibly delicious is served to you! When my mom made something like homemade cookies for a treat, two cookies were not enough for me as a child; I usually wanted three or four. (even as an adult, I have to exercise moderation or self control at times!)

Although the illustration I gave with cookies is a simple one, sadly, many Americans don't know how to exercise "self control" when it comes to eating food on a daily basis. Many Americans are overweight simply from over eating. 

When our bodies gain extra weight from eating too much food, it puts tremendous stress on the rest of the body, on our heart, and on our other organs. 

God has given us so many rich blessings to enjoy, like sunshine and food, but those things need to be enjoyed within moderation. Things that are not good for our health should be avoided as much as possible.  

Though simple, following the Biblical principle of moderation or self control has a profound affect on our health! 

Stay tuned as I prepare to write one more important or major health post in the upcoming weeks, one that I think is the most important of them all. 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and I have no medical training. The things I share on this blog are simple, practical things that I've learned help with good health.