Switching Gears: Back to Back Speaking Engagements!

As always, I had the privilege of working with these awesome kiddos after school, teaching them how to be healthy and happy using the CREATION acronym! This week we talked about the first 4 letters in the acronym C - Choice, R - Rest, E - Environment and A - Activity as they are related to our overall health and well-being. Next time we will discuss the last 4 letters T - Trust, I - Interpersonal Relationships, O - Outlook and N - Nutrition. It was so beautiful outside, we let them go out and play in the fresh air and sunshine for the final 10 minutes or so, to close out our fun time together!

The kids were probably wondering why I was so dressed up this time around, ha! But as soon as I left them, I headed to speak at the CHIP (Change is Possible) monthly dinner, held at the Greeneville SDA church. After enjoying a delicious healthy dinner, we discussed in depth R - Rest and how it directly impacts our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Honestly, the Rest chapter is my favorite of all the Creation Health materials, I just love it when I get the chance to talk about it. I think it is because most of the time you hear about diet and exercise related to health and wellness, not rest. But there is a wealth of information out there about how much sleep and rest affect our weight, immune system, prevention of disease and overall well-being. I was pleasantly overwhelmed and fascinated the first time I heard it and it is so fun to be able to give myself and others permission to take a break, say no and simply enjoy life! God created rest in the beginning. It was a forethought, not an afterthought. It is not for the weak or faint of heart, but for all. It is a gift given at creation, so that we can enjoy all that God has done and made, and all that we have accomplished, while simultaneously being restored for the next thing He has for us to do.

That said, are you getting enough rest? In our busy, 24/7 connected society it is not something that is just going to happen. You must plan for it. Schedule it. Make it a priority. Go ahead, I am giving you permission!

About the Author: Erin Franklin is the Creation Health Coordinator for Greene County, the Head Volleyball Coach at Greeneville High School and the Founder/Director at Worthy of the Prize Sports Ministries. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization, and her ebook find joy in the journey: how 12 women could face tomorrow just because He lives for inspiring stories of women who found overwhelming joy despite their circumstances. Erin is the wife of Aaron, the Minister of Music & Senior Adults at FBC Greeneville, and the momma of 2 sons, Anderson and EJ. Click here for full bio.