Angie Tolpin is a homeschooling mom of 8 with another baby on the way and is also an author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and co-host of the Courageous Parenting podcast. Angie’s passion is in leaving a Kingdom focused legacy and loves to encourage moms through her Christian postpartum course and the offer of redeeming childbirth. We are talking about the ways you can make health a priority in your household and for your family without creating an idol out of it. You’re going to discover how communication with your spouse and family is an important part of creating a household that is healthy and still God centered.
Let’s get healthy together!
Making Your Health A Priority, But Not An Idol
The way we view our bodies and the perspective we take comes down to whether we view it as an idol. Angie focuses on what she’s teaching her daughters as a mom, what she portrays and models to them and to those who are younger and in her life and how we need to be the example for them. When people focus too much on taking care of themselves, it can become an idol or even an agenda if we try to push it onto others.
Putting Our Identity In Christ Alone
God gave us this one body and we need to take care of it, just as He takes care of the church. Our job is to spread the word of God and to take care of ourselves in order to serve God. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t live as long as we need to and should be. You have to have a holy ‘why’ behind why you take care of yourself. If it’s a selfish ‘why’ then, we’ve made it an idol.
Comparison Trap Among Women
Angie shares how we have to be careful not to expect ourselves to do all the things that someone else is doing. By keeping our focus on the Lord and what He has called us to, even if it means different, we are able to steer away from comparing ourselves to others. Often times, as women, we have a tendency to compare ourselves to other women in regards to our body shapes. Angie suggests asking your spouse to help hold you accountable and encourage you. It’s important to share these areas of our life with those closest to us to have a healthy God view of ourselves.
How To Evaluate If Something Is An Idol In Your Life
Communication within your marriage and family plays a big role in ensuring that your health and food doesn’t become an idol in your household. As a couple, you should be discussing how food affects your children and your household. Angie uses the example of sugar for your children and their reaction to having it at a birthday party. Discover if they are judgemental about sugar being present and how they treat it and you will soon discover whether food has become an idol in your life or not.
Setting A Good Example For Your Family With A Healthy Lifestyle
As a homeschooling mom, Angie makes 3 meals a day for her family and ensures that they are healthy. She also prioritizes her health with regular workouts with the help and support of her husband. We can easily put ourselves on the backburner, and as moms, often do, but in being purposeful with our health, getting the support we need, we are able to not make it an idol while still ensuring that our health is a priority.
What You’ll Hear:
- Making Your Health A Priority, But Not An Idol
- Putting Our Identity In Christ Alone
- Comparison Trap Among Women
- How To Evaluate If Something Is An Idol In Your Life
- Setting A Good Example For Your Family With A Healthy Lifestyle
Related Links & Resources:
Courageous Mom Essentials’ Instagram
Parenting Mentor Program & Podcast
Redeeming Childbirth & Christian Postpartum Course
Courageous Mom Essentials (Young Living Team)
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