Yesterday was my birthday. The cliche really is true, every day that we wake up is a new opportunity and a new blessing. I feel favored. I am fit. I do not take any medications. I am able to exercise daily. I wake up each day counting my many blessings.
Yesterday, on my birthday, my beloved father had one of his toes removed. While I was elated that the surgery was successful, I was saddened because his experience was avoidable. While writing this blog I recalled one of my father's sermons about bad things happening to good people for divine reasons.
My father's sermon told the story of the Hebrew shepherd, Joseph who was favored by God with the gift of prophesy. He could interpret dreams. Joseph's brothers were envious of Joseph so they sold him into slavery. Joseph was, imprisoned, wrongfully accused of making sexual advances toward a woman and humiliated. All because he had the gift of interpreting signs and dreams.
Years later, the King of Egypt had a dream. Joseph, because of his gift, is summoned. Joseph tells the king that Egypt should store grain for seven years because there will be seven years of drought. This happens and because of his wisdom, Joseph becomes the the highest official in Egypt.
Meanwhile, back in Canaan, Joseph's family needs grain because famine has also affected their land. Joseph is now the person his brothers turn to for assistance. Joseph helps them and brings the entire family, including his father to Egypt where they prosper.
My father ended the sermon by illustrating Joseph's deleterious circumstances as a journey toward a greater end. If Joseph had not been sold by his brothers he would not have been put in prison. If Joseph had not been imprisoned he would not have met the king and been able to save thousands of people and ironically, the brothers who hated and envied him.
What does the Hebrew Joseph have to do with my father's toe being amputated and my blog about wellness and eating a plant based diet?
For years I have struggled with a way to help my family overcome obesity and the inevitable complications of not eating and exercising. My grandmother and my father's sister lost their legs to diabetes. One of my brothers is struggling with debilitating cardiomyopathy (he needs a new heart) the other brother has diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (leg pain) so severe that on some days he can not walk. I have a host of cousins who are overweight and headed down a similar road with a predictable fate. Why can we not see the warning signs? Why can't we interpret the clues our body gives us? What will it take for my family and you, my readers, to understand that we have the power to change the seemingly predetermined course? With the proper diet and exercise your quality of life will change. I am not a prophet nor am I clairvoyant. I do know that if we continue to contaminate our bodies with meat that has been injected with antibiotics and animals fed chemically treated food we will be doomed to struggle. Diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, gout, arthritis and many types of cancer are preventable.
While waiting for my father to go into surgery I noticed one of the ministers in my father's jurisdiction reading a book about a raw diet. He told me about recently being diagnosed with diabetes and about his wife's health complications. All of their health problems were because of a poor diet and a lack of exercise. We talked about making a change. The renal nurse sitting with us joined in our conversation agreeing that we all needed to change our diets. My aunt, my father's only remaining sister, came in a she too commented on starting an exercise program and wanting to avoid her brother's plight.
My family is Pentecostal and part of the ritual of attending church all day is to end it with a smorgasbord of fat laden comfort foods. Being able to feed your family was a sign of affluence. Years ago, mentioning a diet without meat and without bread was scoffed at. Being a vegan was being eccentric, a hippie and even communist. Remember what happened to Oprah when she mentioned not eating meat on her talk show? Maybe my father losing his toe was necessary to help others avoid a similar fate. Maybe my family and my readers will see the signs. Maybe a member of his congregation will see his plight and make a small change. Maybe his sacrifice will help someone else improve their lifestyle.
What do you think?
What about making a first step? Make a commitment to change one thing about your current diet.
*Cut out carbonated beverages
*Cut out red meat
*Choose your carbohydrates carefully
*Eliminate refined sugar
*Increase intake of daily fiber
*Increase fruits and vegetables
*Keep a daily food diary
*Know what you put into your mouth
*Do you really need milk
Dr. Iglehart, I found this article very interesting. I will definately share this with some of my friends and family.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday!