I was looking back through some of my Facebook posts and came across this one from 2015. Back then, my only thought was of the medicines that were going to “save me” from the complications of diabetes. In the post, I mention how the drug “worked wonders in allowing me to regain control of my blood sugar.”. At the time, a drug that worked wonders was one that gave me blood sugars below 150.
I am not going to demonize diabetes medications or the pharmaceutical industry, but I now know I can’t count on medicine to be the primary force in fighting diabetes and obesity.
Getting Upset Over Little Things Like Money
On the way home from school I had to stop at CVS to pick up a refill of one of my diabetes medications. With my insurance and a manufacturer’s special discount card, I’ve been able to buy a medicine that costs almost $600 a month for just $25. This medicine has worked wonders in allowing me to regain control of my blood sugar when nothing else has worked very well.
At CVS I got the news that my new discounted price is $314 a month. Surely, I said, that was a mistake. I came home and called AstraZeneca and after spending almost 15 minutes trying to get a human on the phone I finally got the word that the price was right. No explanation, but I was told that if I didn’t have any insurance I could probably get the medicine for free.
After 2 hours of fuming and doing my best “guess I’ll go eat worms” act I calmed down and regained rational thought.
God’s Prescription for Anxiety and Fear
I thought about how blessed I am to have such a wonderful wife, 2 great sons, 3 beautiful, smart daughters, and a grandson that I can’t even think about without smiling. I considered how many times over the course of the year I get upset over something I many not even remember in a few months.
I thought about my family of friends, the laughs we have, and the joy they bring me. I thought about how much fun I have teaching my AP classes and I remembered the message one of them sent me today:
“I believe your class is the most interesting class I’ve ever taken in my years of high school. Mainly because of the many metaphors and analogies that you give. You are able to teach students on a level for everyone to understand.”
I thought about how stupid it was to get mad over money, so I went to CVS and bought the medicine. I then went to Kroger and spent more money to buy Becky and Kelsey some flowers.
Paul’s advice to the church in Philippi is right on target and crucial in a world filled with struggles:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
Commenting on this verse, Chuck Swindoll offers the following observation:
“A person is a product of his or her own thoughts. Thoughts form the thermostat which regulates what we accomplish in life. My body responds and reacts to the input from my mind. If I feed it with doubt, worry, and discouragement, that is precisely the kind of day I will experience. If I adjust my thermostat forward—to thoughts filled with vision, hope, and victory—I can count on that kind of day. You and I become what we think about.”
