Phil Parham (15 page)

Have you ever been accused of daydreaming in class? Maybe you were thinking about what you were going to do after school. Maybe you were thinking about scoring the winning run at the baseball game. It doesn't matter what you daydream about, what matters is that you are taken away to another place and into a world of possibilities.

Many times we get in trouble when we daydream, but today I'm giving you permission to daydream with me for a minute. I want you to think about your future. What do you want to do when you grow up? I believe that God often gives us a clue about our future in what we daydream about the most. It's our job to play detective and figure out what that plan is.

Get a picture in your mind about what that will look like. What do you see? When you think about your future, I hope you see yourself doing big and mighty things. I hope you won't set any limits on what you can do. When you daydream, know that if you make good choices and don't give up, you can make those daydreams real!

1. How important do you think your health is in making your dreams a reality?

2. What steps can you take to make sure you are healthy?

3. What kinds of things do you daydream about? Talk about them as a family. Encourage each other as you share.

Rest is an important part of being healthy. When you get plenty of sleep every night, you are able to think more clearly and have more energy. When your parents set a bedtime for you, it's because they want to you to feel good the next day. So don't stay up late playing video games or watching TV. Get a good night's sleep instead.

A Word from Amy

When I was a little girl, my mother owned an ice cream parlor. The cool thing about that was I could have ice cream anytime I wanted. The bad thing about that was also that I could have ice cream anytime I wanted. Because of making bad choices, I ate too much ice cream and before I knew it, my clothes wouldn't fit anymore. I was chubby.

Being overweight caused me to feel bad about myself. Some of the kids started to make fun of me, and it made me feel sad and lonely. I wasn't as outgoing as I had been, and I didn't participate in activities that I once enjoyed because I was too self-conscious.

I'm not telling you this to make you feel sorry for me. I'm telling you this because you have the power to make good or bad choices in your life. Your choices make the difference between whether you see your dreams come true or not.

I encourage you to remember that you have the power, every day, to decide whether you are going to do the right thing. And I believe that you will choose the right things so you can live your dreams!

1. How have your bad choices in the past affected your life? For example, maybe you didn't study for a test and got a bad grade. How can you make better choices in the future?

2. What are some good choices you can make where your health is concerned?

3. Think about the dreams you talked about in yesterday's reading. Discuss some good choices you can make that will help those dreams come true.

Substituting mustard for mayo is an easy change that can make a difference in your health. Mustard has virtually no calories or fat while mayo is high in fat and calories. Simple choices matter!

A Word from Amy

Thirteen-year-old Jordan Romero is the youngest person to climb Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. This mountain is just over 29,000 feet high. It's as high as almost 97 football fields.

Getting to the very top of this mountain is an amazing feat for most people, and even more amazing for a young boy. It didn't come easy. Jordan wasn't able to climb that mountain overnight. It took a lot of time, training, practice, and preparation so he could see his dream come true.

In his blog, Jordan wrote, “Every step I take is finally toward the biggest goal of my life, to stand on top of the world.” Accomplishing his goal required him to take one step at a time. His dream wouldn't become a reality in the blink of an eye. It would take time.

All good things take time. It takes time for a seed to become a tree. It takes time for a puppy to become a dog. It takes time for a baby to grow up. On your journey to becoming a fit child, parent, and family, you have to remember that gaining health takes time. If you haven't been eating healthy or exercising, you can't expect to make huge changes fast. Pace yourself. Just as with making dreams come true, getting healthy will take time.

1. As a family, share some of your health goals with each other. Maybe you, the parent, want to lose 20 pounds. Maybe you, the child, want to be more active and play sports.

2. Do you get frustrated when you want to do something, but it takes longer than you think? Such as learning to ride a bike? Or reading a book?

3. How can you be more patient with yourself and understand that sometimes you will need more time to get something done?

Instead of grabbing some chips or a candy bar as a snack, grab a piece of fruit. It'll give you energy and make you feel great.

A Word from Amy

If you have a dream or goal in mind, write it down. Writing down your goals will help you accomplish them.

Maybe as your mother or father is reading this today, you're thinking,
But I don't know what they are,
or
I don't think I have any.
Did you know that God cares about you so much that He has placed special desires in your heart that are unique to you? That's right! Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight yourself in the
Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Well, He knows all about your heart because He created you. And because He created you, it means He created those desires too.

Ask God what His purpose is for your life. You should pray as a family, but also take some time and pray on your own. It doesn't have to be a long prayer and you don't have to use big, fancy words. Just spend time with God and ask Him.

1. How does it feel knowing that God cares about your dreams?

2. Is there something you think He may want you to do? Do you feel a tug on your heart to do something specific?

3. Spend some time speaking into each other's life. Tell each member of your family something you think they are really good at.

Go through a magazine and find a picture of something or someone who inspires you. It could be an athlete, a doctor, or a youth leader because those are things you may want to do when you grow up. Paste it on the refrigerator so you can be inspired to dream.

A Word from Amy