Thursday, February 18, 2010

An Ounce of Prevention

    I wonder how many times in my life I have heard the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” Though it is a true statement, I do not believe it is a statement we really live out. I have been in Nebraska this week encouraging the employees of one of our clients to take care of their health. After hearing numerous stories, there seems to be a common thread. We pay way more attention to a situation once a problem has occurred versus preventing the situation from happening. I have listened to several people who have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. They were all overweight, eating anything they want, never exercising, and not wanting to give up their lifestyles. Now that they have diabetes, they are willing to change their eating habits and start exercising. I am glad they are willing to make those lifestyle changes to be able to keep their diabetes in control. However, it would have been wonderful if they had made those changes before they developed that terrible disease.
     We have the same thinking in many things in our life other than with our health. I see it in marriages. So many people ignore their marriages and they do not deal with the issues and needs of their spouse until their hurts have grown to a critical state and their marriage is ending. Then they decide they love their spouse and are willing to do whatever it takes to restore their marriage. I see it in people’s finances. They do not take care of their spending and their budgets until they are in a position of repossession or bankruptcy and then they make the necessary changes in their life to deal with their issues. I see it in the raising of children. People do not discipline their children and teach them life principals until they are older and get into some major trouble and then they change their parenting style to help their children succeed. I see it in people's activities and schedules. They live such a crazy life governed by one activity after another. When they are at a breaking point and stress affects every aspect of their life, then they reevaluate their calendars and give some things up and learn to say ‘no’ to constant demands.
     I could go on listing other examples but the most important one has to do with living for God. So many people know that following God’s leading and principals is the best prevention to the many problems of life. However, they don’t want to give up things they think brings them pleasure and they don’t want to develop discipline to do the things they know they should. They try to walk as close to the fence as possible and still claim to be a follower of Jesus. When life crashes in on them and there is nowhere to turn, it is then they surrender to the obedience of God. They wait until they are in need and then beg God to fix it! Thank God for His grace because He is always there to lift us out of our self made pits!
     How many heartaches, trials, and scars could we avoid if we were willing to practice prevention? How many troubles do we bring on ourselves because we don’t want to change until we have to? Our lives would be so much easier if prevention was a part of our lives. What area are you gambling with? We would endure less complications if we would make the necessary changes before we have to deal with the repercussions. I think Mr. Franklin was wise to say that a little prevention is more valuable than cleaning up the aftermath!

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered!
Proverbs 27:12

1 comment:

Steph said...

More of the preventative maintenance! Just like you have said before You take care of your car; put gas in it, change the oil, get new tires....you don't just drive it until something falls off of it or blows up...so why do that in our marriage, children or our walk with God. See Tonya I do listen and remember things you say...and not only that I apply them to life! :-)