Thank you, God, for giving me feet to walk, and eyes to see!

Thank you, God, for giving me

Feet to walk and eyes to see;

Now whatever I may do,

Lead me safely back to you.

And please bless this food.

Amen

For 11 years this has been Emily's standard table blessing.  She picked it up out of "A Child's Poems and Prayers" and made it her own.  The ending was tacked on to make it appropriate for mealtime.

On this sunny spring morning as I took a walk, I passed three homes and reflected on the inhabitants.  As statistically improbable as it seems, living in our neighborhood are three people who have lost both of their legs, either by accident or illness.  All three of these vibrant souls are an inspiration to those within their circles.  They have learned to live without something most of us not only consider essential, but take for granted--"feet to walk."

As I pondered the short little poem, I thought of gratitude.  How much do we take for granted every day?  I like the habit of counting at least five things for which I'm grateful at bedtime--and randomly throughout the day.  Doing this really fosters contentment!  I also reflected on stewardship--the responsibility of taking care of the assets entrusted to us:  family, home, money, pets, and not the least of these--health.

Over two years ago Wayne and I took a seminar called "CHIP", which stands for Coronary Health Improvement Project.  We were presented with a staggering amount of information about how a healthy lifestyle protects from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. The program promotes a "plant based" diet, and has evidence to support the claim that many western diseases can be prevented by changes in the diet.  A key point is that disease is strongly promoted by ingesting animal protein.  Carbohydrates are not the "bad guy"--at least, unrefined, complex ones aren't. Well, I'm a nurse, and have known about healthy habits for a long time, but knowing isn't "doing". I do like my cheese!! Yep, I'm a vegetarian, but that doesn't stop me from eating potato chips and cookies!  One "CHIP" friend teases me that I not only "fell off the CHIP wagon", but the wagon left town and left me behind!  

One of my work colleagues is a middle-age woman with type 2 diabetes (adult onset, non-insulin dependent) and weight issues. On her own, without any support except her own research in books, she has gone from a heavily carnivorous diet ("I LOVE my meat!") to entirely plant based, and has lost a lot of weight.  Her fasting blood sugar has plummeted from over 200 to 88 (that's a GOOD thing), and she expects to go off her medication soon! I'm so impressed by her that she has given me new motivation.  As a home care nurse, I frequently see patients suffering from the ravages of diabetes--poor vision, foot pain, kidney disease, foot wounds, and amputations.  One of the worst foot wounds I've ever seen was on a young man with "diet controlled" diabetes.  I'd like to keep my "feet to walk and eyes to see."  I will use my feet for walking more often, and I will be grateful!