Jump Start

Have you ever had one of these days? You get up late, you know if you are late to work one more time it could really be bad news. Or you get up on time and the rest of the household decides they do not want to cooperate. They grumble about getting up, you think you have an understanding and they are on their way out of bed, you leave the room and they return to their slumber. You wait five minutes, no noise. You return to said room to find them fast asleep. With more encouragement, you persuade them you mean business and out of bed they come all the time complaining. You are trying to cheerful but you are losing it. You return to your room to finish getting yourself ready, and trying to get your good attitude back. Finally all of your pre-leaving activities are done everyone climbs into the car or you get in, whichever is the case. You put your key in the ignition, turn it and nothing happens. You are sure this cannot be happening; you try again with the same results. After laying your head on the steering wheel, as if this really can't be happening, you give it one more try with your fingers crossed, as if that will help. It does not help. You realize it is probably your battery. You say to your now panicking children, which are concerned now they will be late for school, "Don't worry John (your neighbor) hasn't left for work, I'll see if he can jump start the car". After you calm down the children, you go to your neighbor and John quickly assists you and you are on your way. What a morning.  You would have never made it without a jump start from a friend.

Every once in a while our lives need a jump start. That's not me you assure me. Great I am glad for that, but there are some of us that need that extra charge to get us up off the couch at times. No, do not run out and get the cables that John used to start the car and hook them up to yourself.  So are you doomed to a life of sitting on the couch? Not at all, first, you need to see that just sitting on the couch and not taking care of your needs, such as physical, nutritional, and mental, are not good for you. If you stay in that state, quickly you will find yourself depressed, never wanting to move. After you realize a problem exists, turn off the television, then march yourself to the bathroom get a long warm shower, get dressed up (for me that is clean pair of blue jeans and t-shirt), fix you something good to eat and decide what you should be doing. Next, call or go visit a good friend. At first your friend might seem shocked that you came to see them, but remember you have been isolating for a while and they just didn't expect to see you at their front door. Do not take that as a sign to go back home and hide in front of your television again. If you do this, it will be like hooking up jumper cables to your body. After the first initial shock to your body, it will start running better if you keep it up. If you do not have a problem, but are helping a friend, go see them, have them get dressed up, take them out, even if it's no more to drive around for some fresh air. Remember, it is not easy for yourself or your friend when this is first tried. Be patient with yourself or your friend, but DO NOT give up. Keep pushing yourself, and encouraging your friend. You might want to write down a schedule of things to do for each day. That will help give you direction for your days. Go outside and get some fresh air, take a walk to clear your mind.  You might be surprised at how much better you feel by just going outside for a while. Keep in contact with your friends. A good visit (on the phone or in person) with them is great medicine. Even if you have no place you really want to go for the day, you still need to get up and take care of your personal needs. Do not allow your couch to consume you and eat the life right out of you. You were created for more. God has a plan for your life. It is your job to find out what it is and do it. Just ask God to help you and He will. If you ever want to talk you can email me at alters30@yahoo.com. I have been there. I know how it feels to need a jump start to my life. You are a person of great worth and I would enjoy hearing from you.

I want to encourage you to start your day my reading your Bible and asking God for direction in your life. Talk to God as you would your friend. He is always ready and willing to listen. He will help you shake off the couch potato syndrome. I would love to hear what God is doing in your life. May He help you get jump started today.