A Merry Heart

A merry heart doeth good
like medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones. 
Proverbs 17:22

A friend from South Carolina recently sent me a book that her brother wrote... 

Paul Young is a missionary in South Africa. And in one of his chapters, the one which deals with health and healing, I became very convicted by what I read. So I hereby confess that for far too long I have violated many of the principles which God has given to humanity for overall health and longevity.

I definitely gleaned a lot from the book because I've been guilty of not doing certain things that would enhance my well-being. I don't rest like I should. I push myself too hard. I'm hyperactive, so I have trouble concentrating. I take on too many projects, which oftentimes means that they never get done. I also don't get enough sleep or exercise. And to quote famed missionary, Amy Carmichael, who spent many years of her life working among India's poor, "Leave yourself a margin." By this she meant allowing for times of rest and recuperation.

And to further quote Ms. Carmichael's words, which are in Paul's book, "Go gently. Don't do as I did... Don't work each day till you are unable to do one minute more..." She should know. Amy spent the last twenty years of her life as an invalid. Prior to this, she had the reputation for "always rushing about" in order to fulfill her ministry. I need to learn from this.

D.B.