Healthy Bones by Becky Van Vleet

 

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)

Per my yearly regiment, I recently had my DEXA bone scan. Even with my aging and family history, I was fairly confident my results would fall in the normal range. After all, I was faithfully taking healthy doses of natural calcium supplements, especially since I had dipped down to the osteoporosis level a few years back. My next scan following that bad test revealed I had come back up to a better level and I no longer had osteoporosis—whew! After a couple of years, I pridefully decided I could cut back on my calcium supplements. Not stop them mind you, just lower my intake a bit. Well, it’s okay to play doctor for myself, right? I know what I’m doing.

Imagine my surprise when I got the less than desirable test results back in my patient portal with a message from my provider: You are at the osteopenia level. Your spine bone density has declined. We can discuss next steps at your annual appointment.

Really?

That very day, I humbly increased my calcium supplements to the level they needed to be. And I am humbly anticipating my annual checkup for “next steps.”

I want to have healthy bones. My skeletal system supports my body. It gives me shape, allows movement, makes blood cells, and provides protection for my organs as well as storing minerals for me.

I started thinking about what the wise teacher Solomon wrote about bones in Proverbs 17:22: A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

God created us for joy, delight, and humor to be vital parts of our lives. Medical studies confirm what King Solomon said 3,000 years ago. Laughter and enjoyment of life can increase the time we live. I’ve never heard of any negative side effects from laughter.

What steps are you taking to put away a killjoy atmosphere and put on the joy of the Lord? A merry heart in the Lord is everlasting and can bring a bounce to our steps, a smile to our faces, and refreshing health to our bones. I, for one, do not wish to have dry bones!

Becky Van Vleet is a retired teacher and principal and award-winning multi-genre author. She has been published in Guideposts, The Country Register, and Christian Devotions Ministry. Her children’s picture books are the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Editing award as well as the Purple Dragonfly award in 2020 and 2021. She and her husband make their home close to Colorado Springs where she enjoys gardening, hiking, oil painting, power walking, and spending time with her family, especially reading books to her grandchildren.

Becky is the author of Unintended Hero, a true story about her father’s battles, experiences, and adventures in WWII aboard the USS Denver. She is passionate about sharing the values from the Greatest Generation and enjoys speaking to high school classes about patriotism.

A member of ACFW and Allauthor, Becky has devoted her website to creating and preserving family memories and sharing family stories for the next generations through her monthly blogs. 

You can find her at: https://beckyvanvleet.com. She would love to hear from you, especially if you have a family story to share!

 

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