So, every morning for the last few years, I have had my regular exercise routine of going to the “gym” each day. (OK, I don’t know if you can call going to CURVES with a group of ol’ Grannies where you don’t even break a sweat a “real workout,” but it was working for me!)

But alas, COVID came and closed CURVES’ doors, and so I guess I am just going to have to sit on the couch, build up my muffin top and give up on my daily activity goals, right?? Wrong!!! 🙂

I figured I better not just “talk the talk,” but begin to “walk the walk,” and ADAPT. And so, I decided to do a short, simple jog each day, right after my daily morning devotions.

Yes, out I go — At what time, you say??? Well, I’ll only admit it’s before six a.m. :):)

This time is so peaceful and so pleasant and so purposeful to keep me so healthy on MANY levels!! I really enjoy it!!

But last week, the weather was a little weird around here and instead of “April Showers” there were “Ugly Snowstorms,” and my oh-so-sweet little jog rapidly deteriorated into one slippery, slidey and super-slushy mess! Ugh, ew, and oh NO!

Now, what is a girl with an old torn knee injury doing JOGGING on ICE? Or, was it even ice underneath? Hmmmm!!?? 

I can’t quite tell from the layer of snow on top: Maybe it’s ice, maybe a crack, maybe it is a rock. And since it was before six, it was also DEAD DARK, and WHOA! What a difference to the “fun” of my physical exercise when, well, the whole time I felt like I was tiptoeing each step, totally fearing and feeling afraid to fall!!!  I’m not kidding.

And not only was the daily jogging experience fairly dreadful, (even though my goal of getting up and out for exercise was good), these 40-year-old joints, hips, ankles and muscles did NOT appreciate jogging all tense and tight. 

And, well, for the rest of the day, and each day I CHOOSE to go out in the icy mess, they hurt… and hurt worse… especially those sore muscles! They were moaning and groaning each time I moved and mostly when I had to sit on the toilet. (Does anyone else out there KNOW what I am talking about?? OH my!! LOL!)

I was a hurting woman — ironically by my own continued CHOICE to go out and keep going, all the while feeling FEARFUL each step of the way. What a crazy lady I am! LOL!

It IS funny to think back on today, because what a difference a day can make! Yup, by the end of yesterday, the snow, ice, and slush on the roads had totally melted away. What joy!!! What bliss!

I could totally trundle along, lost in happy thoughts, absorbing my world, never worried or watching the road at my feet to see what was down there, and so, I kept my head up, eyes out, and brain focused forward!! That same 5 km felt SO super positive and pleasant!!

And now, JUST where am I going with all this (other than to say I got my 5 km in today??? :):)

Well, what a HUGE difference when I DID that 5 km moving in FEAR, versus moving in FAITH!!!

And, you know, it hit me: That is just like real life!!! Like, when I CHOOSE to get up, dig into and APPLY God’s “Faithful FACTS,” I feel SO much better than when I am tentatively stepping out on my own, so easily drawn into FEAR and NOT using the #1 Tool HE has passed along (especially for times like the present): HIS ALL COMFORTING, ALL CONSISTENT, ALL COMMITTED WORD!!

But if I CHOOSE to USE it, well, I sure ENJOY my day a whole lot more AND feel way “less sore” because all that negative energy, emotion, tenseness and tightness, well, a whole whack of it just isn’t there, because I’ve purposefully chosen to REACH for His TRUTHS over what I just FEEL.

Yup, FEAR wants to pop up and in oh-so-easily, but if these Fear-Thoughts don’t make it past God’s FILTER of FACTS (aka The BIBLE) well, ladies, I’ve learnt they just gotta go.

Oh, I LOVE that I get to choose which road to take each day: the very slushy, slidey, slippery ROAD of FEAR… OR the sturdy, steady, strengthening road of FAITH.

I know which one I will take — and so hoping to see you along the way! 

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be Beautiful Women of God.

Carol 😉