What you eat is what you get

After fully recovering from type 2 diabetes, I began opening a new chapter in my life. My health difficulties became the doorway to transformation. For two years, I had no job. I enjoyed my time at home free from alarm clocks, free to go anywhere, free to eat whatever I wanted. It felt like a vacation after 22 years of working on ships. During the pandemic, it was my first time to have such a long break, and I truly enjoyed it.

But I didn’t realize the consequences of my choices. I enjoyed food and freedom without thinking about the future. That season of indulgence eventually led me to sickness. Yet, I thank God for the reminder: my body is only borrowed from Him. Slowly, I began to know God more deeply.

When Strength Feels Untouchable

When we are young and strong, we often feel untouchable. We think we can do whatever we want eat anything, live without limits, and enjoy endless energy. But life has a way of humbling us.

During my meals, I often saw my wife caring for her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. One day, she said in Tagalog: “Yan diba sabi ni God, alalahanin mo naman ang lumikha sayo habang bata pa.” (“Isn’t that what God said? Remember your Creator while you are still young.”)

That phrase struck me deeply. It was like a small voice whispering in my ear. I couldn’t forget it. I searched for its meaning and discovered Ecclesiastes 12:1 (KJV): “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.”

At first, I didn’t fully understand. But I read it repeatedly, slowly, in English, until the Word of God touched my heart. That verse became the first Bible passage I remembered not the whole text, but the number itself. From that moment, my spiritual life began to open.

Spiritual Awakening Through Sickness

My sickness became a turning point. Through diabetes, God opened opportunities for me to grow spiritually, physically, and even financially. I realized that if we follow God’s Word, our bodies are safe. The Bible contains instructions for healthy living, including what we should eat.

Genesis 1:29 (KJV): And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed… and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

God provided healthy food from the beginning. If we follow His design, we protect our health. But when we ignore His wisdom, sickness follows.

Lessons From Hospitality Work

For 22 years, I worked in hospitality, serving guests from around the world. I encountered many people with large body weights. One memory stands out: I had a guest in a wheelchair who couldn’t fit through the cabin door. I had to push her inside the stateroom. That moment shocked me.

It reminded me that our bodies reflect our choices. Just like fire grows bigger when you add more wood or gasoline, our bodies grow larger when we consume more food. Less food means less weight. What you eat is what you get it’s that simple.

Discipline Over Desire

During my recovery, discipline became my medicine. At first, I struggled. When I saw food, my appetite was strong, and my mouth watered. But I reminded myself: I wanted to extend my life. Discipline was the only way.

Proverbs 23:20–21 (KJV): Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

This verse taught me that overeating leads to weakness and sickness. Discipline, on the other hand, leads to freedom.

Conversations With Colleagues

While enjoying my daily meals, my colleagues often teased me: “Oh… you are on a diet!” I smiled because they didn’t know my story. They didn’t understand the discipline behind my choices.

One subordinate, the same age as me (53), had high blood pressure and was on maintenance medication. He asked me what medicine I took. I told him honestly: “I don’t like maintenance. I’m not ready for that.”

I observed his eating habits large portions of meat and rice, three times a day. No wonder he needed medication. When he asked me my secret, I told him: “It’s the food we eat daily.”

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (KJV): What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost… therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Our bodies are temples. What we eat is not just about healthit’s about honoring God.

Financial Realities and Discipline

Healthy food is expensive where I live. Many people with limited money can only buy what fits their budget. Ironically, those who are financially fortunate often have access to abundant food but lack discipline. They eat too much, without considering the consequences.

This taught me that health is not about wealth it’s about discipline. Even simple foods, eaten wisely, can sustain life.

A New Life After Recovery

After recovering from diabetes, I began opening my new life. My health difficulties became opportunities. I realized that God used my sickness to remind me of His Word.

Now, I enjoy food more than ever not because I eat everything I want, but because I eat with discipline. I savor each bite, knowing it nourishes my body. I no longer see food as temptation but as a gift.

My health has improved. My energy has returned. My faith has deepened. Discipline turned my struggle into strength.

Disclaimer

I am not a pastor, nor a medical professional. I am simply sharing my testimony. When I became sick, my health, my spiritual life, and even my finances were opened before me. My difficulties became opportunities. Perhaps God allowed this sickness to draw me closer to Him, to remind me to remember Him while I still have strength.

Conclusion

My journey with diabetes taught me that recovery is possible through discipline, food, exercise, and faith. Life truly depends on the actions we take daily. Whether we are rich or poor, whether food is abundant or scarce, the key is discipline.

God has given us healthy food, but it is our choice what we eat. He has given us bodies, but it is our responsibility to care for them. By choosing wisely, we honor Him and extend our lives.

So today, I encourage you: take control of your daily actions. Be disciplined in what you eat. Be consistent in how you move. And trust that God, who gave us life, will bless the choices we make to protect it.

We can do it

Once again, thank you for reading my journey. I hope it inspires you to reflect on your own daily choices. Please feel free to leave a comment I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Your feedback means so much, and I look forward to sharing more with you in my next post.

Reynaldo M. Oliva