Sunday, August 18, 2013

Weighty Matters




As an infant I caused my poor mother endless hours of worry. She thought I would surely die from lack of nourishment. It seems I wasn't big on eating or even drinking a bottle for that matter.

This phenomenon continued well into my childhood. I have vivid memories of sitting face to face, at the kitchen table, with a dish of rapidly cooling food (mostly vegetables). I was the lone occupant, everyone else having finished and gone on to do the things I wished I was doing. The dreaded "You will sit there until you eat everything on your plate," hung in the air. I swung my skinny legs back and forth and pushed the veggies around in a vain attempt to make it look as though I had eaten most of it.

About the time I hit my late teens there was a seismic shift in my attitude. I looked back in wonder at the little girl who couldn't abide peanut butter and thought cheese was a bad word. Fortunately, my activity level and metabolism rate remained high thus compensating for the increase in food consumption.

However, all good things must come to an end, and as I edged into my thirties I made the startling discovery that it's really easy to put on weight....and not so easy to take it off. Suddenly the word "diet" became a part of my vocabulary.

Over the next couple of decades I lost and found twenty-five - ish pounds over and over again. By carefully calculating my daily caloric intake, I would lose the weight and even maintain it for a reasonable amount of time. But counting calories can get really old, and before long the weight would magically reappear.

It is a cycle that is emblematic of most things in my life - a tendency to swing wildly from one extreme to the other. The battle for balance is one I fight daily.

Today I read this verse:

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
 I Cor. 10:31

Well that sort of puts things in perspective.

Our Pastor has a way of taking complicated spiritual issues and making them easy to understand. Concerning living the Christian life he says, "Read the Bible and do what it says." Simple.

I am tired of the wild ride. I want to make a permanent change. I think this just might do it. I need to lose about ten pounds.  You may hold me accountable.  I am sure there will be "those" days. That's okay. The One who gave the instructions also offers grace - without condemnation.

Anyone else with me? Anyone else think a simple choice to "eat or drink to the glory of God " might be a good diet plan? Perhaps we can cheer each other on.

Blessings,
Linda