A Son Deficiency:

I live in Iowa, and I have lived here my entire life.  Because of this, I have definitely been used to the moments of extreme cold weather.  I am talking, of course, of days sub zero degrees with the windchill even lower.  This is so cold, a person shouldn’t have their exposed skin out for too long, or it will otherwise have frostbite.  This last week was definitely one of those extreme cold weeks.  Most of the days were incredibly cold, so cold that one day it was 15 degrees outside, I would have almost called it warm.  

With those cold days, it can take some motivation to go outside.  I go outside, but it does take a long time.  However, I have noticed one big thing.  When the sun is shining, it is so much warmer than it is without the sun.  If the sun doesn’t necessarily make the degree higher, it certainly makes a person feel as though it is warmer.  It also makes the whole day seem brighter and more beautiful, even with the freezing temperatures.  Granted, a person should still cover up accordingly and still not stay outside too long.  

This reminded me of a book I had read a long time ago about women’s health and the importance of Vitamin D. I read this book called, “Roar” by Dr. Stacy T. Sims.  This is all about how the female body is different from the male body, there are certain foods we need more of, and there are certain exercises women should do for optimum health.  Some nutritional pieces, though, are essential for both men and women.  One of those is the importance of Vitamin D which helps with bone health.  There has been a lot of study on the essence of Vitamin D and the increased lack in overall bodies.  “Turns out many of us aren’t getting enough (Vitamin D) from any source.  In fact some researchers have gone so far as to call Vitamin D deficiency a pandemic.”  (Sims, Stacy T; Roar, page 235). This really shows in the increased issues many have with their weaker bones such as osteoporosis that is really prevalent in older women.  

Vitamin D is often described as the sunshine vitamin.  A person receives a lot of Vitamin D when they sit in the sunlight, as well as from some foods such as fish, certain cheeses, and eggs.  Besides helping with bone health, Vitamin D also helps with muscle growth and energy throughout exercise or strenuous activity.  When a person is surrounded by the sun’s rays, we are given so much more nutrition than when we are choosing to stay inside.  This got me thinking, while maybe not the most perfect metaphor, Jesus is like our Vitamin D.  He is the Son after all.  It is important we don’t have a deficiency from him, just as we should avoid a deficiency in the actual Vitamin D.  

I know I can sometimes live my life without as much of the “Son” the Lord, then I should.  I sometimes assume I can make it through the day by myself and through my own strength.  This can work for a while, until I get really down or until something really hard happens.  Days can be hard.  Days can be long and dreary.  There can be very hard days.  However, the Lord as the Son in our lives can make those days so much brighter just as the sun outside can make the freezing cold less bitter.   It doesn’t necessarily mean that no bad thing will ever occur, but it does help remind us that God will be there every step of the way.  

Psalm 27:13-14 says, “I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” There is goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  There will be even more goodness in the land of the Lord in heaven.  We can remain confident in this because God has made promises to us and for us.  Yes, he does tell us we are going to have trials and tribulations and bad times.  However, we are going to be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  

Because of all of this, I have realized that just like people can become Vitamin D deficient, we can also become Son deficient in regard to how much time we spend with God.  Similarly, when we spend time outside with the sun’s rays on our body, we get our good helping of Vitamin D. It is just as important when we spend time in prayer or reading our Bible, then we get more of our Son, our time with the Lord.  

I have two challenges for you this week.  The first one is a health related one.  If you do ever find, especially in the winter months, you struggle with your energy and feel a bit sadder, I do recommend looking into having more Vitamin D.  Personally, I do take Vitamin D supplement pills, but foods like eggs and fish include Vitamin D as well.  The second challenge is to spend time with the Son, Jesus Christ.  Make it a goal to put aside at least one hour in your week, to spend time in prayer or in reading your Bible.  Spend time talking with him and really get your helping of the Son needed for your days.