Do you struggle with moderation?


 TODAY'S PROVERB: When you find honey, eat just enough, lest you are stuffed and vomit it. Proverbs 25:16

Living life in moderation may seem boring to some, but apparently GOD thinks it's a wise thing.

Did you know too much:

  • protein is stored as fat?
  • fiber causes bloating and--ahem--gas?
  • Vitamin D causes nausea, vomiting, and weakness?
  • Vitamin C causes diarrhea and nausea?
  • Vitamin A causes intracranial pressure, dizziness, nausea, liver damage!, coma!, and even death!
All the above are necessary to good health, but even these necessary things can be harmful in excess.

What about other things? Like--eek--technology? Especially in the hands of children?

Did you know too much technology:
  • hinders a child's creativity? Tactile activities like crafts, drawing, and painting improve motor and analytical skills, and even verbal reasoning skills.
  • can lead to loss of social skills? The minimization of learning how to talk one-on-one creates issues later in life with adult relationships and employment.
  • can lead to physical problems? Awkward positions and poor posture can lead to children developing migraines, arthritis, and back pain as adults.
  • can lead to sleep deprivation? Children require between 10-12 hours of sleep to grow and develop properly. Technology in the bedroom can reduce sleep time to 6-8 hours. The "blue light" syndrome is caused by the technology lights which send signals to the body to stay awake. (This applies to adults, too.)
  • hinders development? A child requires 2-3 hours each day of creative, active play. Everything from hugging to exploring outside in the sunshine, to playing house, just good old-fashion play is needed. Without the tactile, balance, movement, and posture stimulation they can develop mental issues, not the least being obesity and ADHD.
I'm guessing there is a world of potentials for excess we must deal with each day, all day.

The first way to curb these excesses is to be aware of them.

But, rather than trying to second-guess what they could be, what if we simply lived a life of moderation? Instead of focusing on a few things for long periods of time, what if we broadened our interests to include taking walks, meeting others for coffee, developing new interests--change things up from time to time?

Maybe, we can hear the LORD better if we're not hyper-focused on technology or social media or television. And that would definitely be sweet to our soul!

May we learn moderation, my friends.

Proverbs 25:16, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

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