Steps to Life

WEEKLY

# 6

More Abundant Life

Dear Friend,

Our Bible lesson today demonstrates the tender fatherly concern God has for us. Since He is our maker, He thoroughly understands the intricacies of our minds and bodies. He knows what we should do to keep them in excellent condition bringing us peace, happiness, and vitality.

Because He loves us, He has not kept these things secret from us, but has revealed them to us in His Word. The instructions He gives guide us not only in what we should do, but also in things that we should avoid if we wish to avoid the suffering and misery that come as a result of indulging in them.

The stories for today illustrate graphically both the problems that arise when we ignore the advice God gives, and the blessings that come when we follow it.

An Invitation to Disaster

By June Strong, used by permission

The continuous blaring of a car horn shattered our sleep. It wasn't a normal staccato honking but rather the chronic wail of a car in distress. It was very close. Right in front of our house, it seemed. I glanced at the clock. 1:40 AM.

Now, under our window, we heard garbled cries for help. "Let us in! Oh, please! He's hurt!" There was much banging on our back door.

We leaped from bed to bathrobe and down the stairs. A teenage girl helped a very bloody young man into our family room. I took a deep breath. I am definitely not emergency-ward caliber. He seemed to be covered with blood jeans, bare chest, arms, and face. But after checking him carefully we determined that it all was coming from a lacerated nose. Otherwise he was OK physically, that is. Emotionally he was a jumble of shock, alcohol, and fear of his father's wrath.

"He's going to kill me," then foul language.

"I think you'll find he's just mighty thankful you're alive," I said, the mother in me responding to this scared and battered youngster.

"You don't know my father." (Profanity.) "Oh, how did this happen to me?" (More profanity.)

Eventually, out of his confusion we sifted the facts. He and the girl, whom he hardly knew, had been attending a graduation party where a keg of beer had been provided for the young merrymakers. This particular young man had consumed far too much, invited his new-found friend for a ride, and gone off the road in front of our house. Fortunately the girl was unharmed. He was frightened by the blood, by the mutilation of his mother's car, and by the anticipated anger of his father.

We called his parents, and my husband delivered the young lady back to the party, where her parents were helping with the festivities.

I found a flashlight and walked with the boy down to the road to view the wreck. Traveling at a good speed, his car had gone into a gully, crashed head on into a telephone pole, ricocheted off, and become pinned against a tree. "My friend," I told him, "you are luckier than you can ever know to be alive. Take your medicine from your father like a man and learn a lesson. Whenever you are tempted to drink, remember how you feel this moment."

And through his misery, his pain, and his fear, he said, very humbly no profanity now "I sure will, Ma'am." I would have liked to believe him, but the world being what it is. . . .

Moments later he faced his grim father with what courage he could muster. But when his mother stepped from the car, the cocky young graduate, with many athletic honors to his credit, was only a little boy again. For just a second she held him, blood and all, in her arms, crooning softly, "It's OK, Jimmy. It's all OK." Just as she'd said it when he was six years old and had skinned his knee. He cried then, the unfamiliar sobs of one who had not shed a tear in years.

When we were back in bed, my husband and I, I could not sleep. I thought, selfishly, of one of my own sons who had traveled eighty miles home from camp meeting that very night on his motorcycle. I thanked God for his safety and that I had never known the sorrow of smelling alcohol on his breath.

But an anger grew within me. An anger at parents who purchase a keg of beer, hire a rock band, and invite the beautiful youth of our land to celebrate their intellectual achievements. Graduation parties indeed! Invitations to disaster, death, and a sordid lifestyle.

Where are the parents who have the courage to say, "Sure, you can have a party, but only soft drinks and punch will be served"? Are there no parents strong enough to say, "No, you cannot attend Joe's party because alcohol is being served"? Have we no longer any standards left to offer our youth? Have we become their buddies instead of their examples and their guides?

It was Jimmy's second accident. Next time his mother may not have the privilege of holding him, warm and repentant, in her arms. In olden times parents had rules and the courage to enforce them. Perhaps they were the good old days, after all.

Better Not Worse

Adapted from "Weimar Bulletin"

Weimar Institute, P.O. Box 486, Weimar, CA 95736

"Mother! What in the world are you doing?" Sonja asked incredulously.

Startled, Carol looked sheepishly down the stairs at her daughter who had just come home for their long anticipated family reunion. "Why, why nothing really," she stammered obviously embarrassed.

"Mother, something must be wrong! I know you better than that. You never scoot down the stairs instead of walking. Did you fall? Are you feeling weak or dizzy or something?"

"Well, Sonja, I didn't want to tell anyone, I didn't want anyone to worry over me and spoil our visits together, I didn't want to be a burden, but my feet hurt so bad. They feel like they are on fire. I've talked to the doctors, but all they tell me is it's just going to get worse! I don't know what I'm going to do."

Sonja gazed thoughtfully at her mother for a long moment wondering what she could do. She determined that if there was any help to be found anywhere for her mother, she would find it.

Foot pain was not Carol's only problem. For 14 years she had been tormented by migraine headaches, Bell's palsy, diabetes, and chest pain.

Hospitals had become familiar though not especially pleasant places to her as she recovered from not just one but two open-heart surgeries. Doctors had recently told her that a third operation would probably be necessary before much longer. How she dreaded the thought!

Pills for one ailment after another chased each other through the day. Her head felt as if it was full of crackles and crickets but no need to worry about that, the doctors said that was just the usual effects of those endless pills.

It was just about too much. Carol felt she could take it all if it weren't for the fire in her feet, but the doctor had said it would just get worse.

Carol again spoke. "Don't worry, Sonja," she said, "I'm still getting around, I've even learned that walking on my heels makes it bearable." She tried to make her voice sound courageous and forced a smile as she spoke.

Sonja said little more, but as soon as possible she called a friend in high government circles who did a lot of traveling, and after explaining the problem asked if he knew of anywhere that help could be obtained.

To her surprise, he began telling her of a friend who had just returned a "new man" from a little place in California.

Carol, following the lead, telephoned Sam who urged her, "Go, Carol, don't even think about it; just pack your bags and go!"

Daring to catch hold of this ray of hope, she went.

Exams, blood tests, and treadmills followed, but the atmosphere was so friendly that Carol relaxed.

Carol was placed on a simple diet of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. Exercise was prescribed for her that was fitted to her limitations, but that got her out into the pure fresh air and warm sunshine. Vigorous warm and cool water treatments were added to restore the circulation to the painful nerves in her legs and feet. Time for sleep and relaxation were balanced with activities and opportunities to learn all she could about healthful living. It was almost a paradise to her.

Before long, she was walking 4 miles a day. The pain began to dissipate, and feeling came back into those numb toes and feet. Sleep that had long evaded her returned. Fatigue and depression left and in their place came the hopefulness and cheer that had marked her more youthful days.

Carol describes her progress this way: "After 25 days, my triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood sugar are down; my chest pain is gone; only a few humming noises still bother me; and I can walk flat on my feet now. It took me years to get into this mess and it's going to take time to get out. But in the Lord's time I can do it and I'm going to hang onto His hand real tight. The Lord is the only healer. His way is so simple. I would love to get on a soapbox and tell it to the world."

Friends, I would like to share with you part of the prescription given to Carol that brought so much health and joy back to her.

"Eat whole plant food as God's plants grow it. Start your own vegetable and herb garden. Plant your own fruit trees, grapes, berries, grains, legumes, and nuts. Burn the food you eat correctly by exercising muscles in well-balanced useful outdoor work and walking. Trust in God. He will give you rest."

The wonderful results Carol has just shared with you are God's results, God's lifestyle, God's gift and to God's glory. Carol simply learned to love Him and obey his laws for health and eternal life.

The blessings that come from living in harmony with God and nature can be yours, too. May God bless you as you study and seek to experience it for yourself and for your family. 

With Love,

From your friends at Steps to Life