Everyone knows that exercise is important to stay fit and healthy. But did you ever think that exercise could also be a remedy for sickness? James and Ellen White once learned a lesson from God about the importance of exercise. Here’s what happened.

James and Ellen had been working very, very hard, but they were constantly encountering problems. Even church members gave them a hard time by being critical about almost everything they did, This made James feel sad and discouraged.

Soon, because of stress and overworking, James became very ill—so ill that he could hardly get out of bed. Ellen loved her husband and wanted him to get well. When she prayed for him, God showed her that the best way to help her husband was to encourage him to stop thinking about himself and to make an effort to be cheerful and happy. God also showed her that she must help James get up and exercise, even though he felt weak.
           
James didn’t want to exercise. He thought that if he exercised, he might be in danger of having another stroke. Even doctors in those days believed that sick people shouldn’t exercise. But Ellen knew better.

One day Ellen sent her son, Willie, to buy three hoes—one for her, one for himself, and one for James. She gave her husband a hoe and encouraged him to work with her in the garden. James was still weak,so he couldn’t do much, but he took the hoe and made some motions. Day after day Ellen encouraged her husband to do useful labor, and as the days passed, James was able to do more and more.

            When harvest time came, Ellen knew that even though their neighbors were busy with their own haying, they would come and help James with his hay since he had been so sick. So she went to all the neighbors, explained James’ need of exercise, and asked them to say they were too busy if he asked them to help with his hay harvest. 

            James did ask the neighbors for help, but to his surprise, all of them said they were too busy. When James told Ellen the news, she said, “Well, let’s show the neighbors that we can do the haying ourselves.” So James helped Ellen and Willie bring in all their hay.

            Ellen’s plan worked. It took months of effort, but soon James was as strong as ever and once again doing God’s work. Ellen knew without a doubt that God had restored her husband’s health using the simple remedy of exercise.