Things have been a little crazy today at my house. The morning started off with our oldest son throwing a ball through the living room window and ended with my husband and two of the boys shooting BB guns at a mouse in our house. Have I mentioned I am the only female in a house of 7? The mouse thing is particularly offensive to me as a housekeeper. I have to keep reminding myself that this is all part of living in the country. The window thing...well, let's not talk about that one.
Needless to say, my rigid morning routine was thrown out of whack. As I was frantically looking for something to wear to work, I pulled Ole Faithful out of the closet. I am referring to my Little Black Dress. I have a serious love/hate relationship going on with this dress. Snatched off of the sale rack at Lane Gyant, this dress has been a go-to item for me for most of 2010-2011. The loose fitting cut and forgivable fabric hide a multitude of sins. The problem is, I wear it all the time! I try to be sneaky & throw a cardigan over it or maybe dress it down with casual accessories, but seriously, I am fooling no one.
My tired little dress is a great reminder of the situation I am in. No matter how much I try to dress it up or camouflage it, my little issue with food is not hidden to the outside world. I mean, people can see all of this weight I am carrying around. As much as I'd like it to be, my problem with food is no secret.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "..let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." "Sin which clings so closely" is the real convicting part of the verse for me. My sin is clinging pretty closely around my mid-section at the moment. I absolutely hate the thought of not just pounds of fat that I am dragging around, but pounds of sin. Yikes. Let that sink in for a minute.
I am ready to lay aside this weight. I am also ready to lay aside that little black dress. As soon as it no longer fits, I promise you I am going to burn that dress. That dress is nothing but a reminder of the struggle I have gone through and I am thankful that He is setting me free. God is really stirring something inside of me this week and I pray that you are experiencing the same thing. I just want more of Him and much less of me (in every way possible).
Quick check in on our 30 Day Challenge: Days 6, 7, & 8 have been good. My food goal (no sugar or potatoes) is getting easier every day. My spiritual goal (20 minutes of quiet time with God) has been amazing. My exercise goal (30 minutes per day) is still not great. I only did 15 minutes today and I had plenty of time to do more. I want this to be the only day that I don't give 100% on all 3 goals.
I can't wait to hear from you all on how your first week went. I am praying that HOPE will begin to rise up in you today.
Love,
Celeste
Celeste, I had no idea that you lived in a virtual frat house. Wow! You have my admiration.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling, but not giving up. My change could come at any minute, so I don't want to give up before the miracle happens. Glad I am not alone!
Hi Celeste, I am the mother-in-law of one of Monica's dearest friends. So I guess that sort of makes me a friend of Monica's? I feel like I know her so well through Chrissy. Anyway...I'm loving this journey you girls are on. And I love hearing about your boys and their antics...raised four of them myself, and I was also the only female in the house. Wouldn't have had it any other way. I have battled the weight issue for 10 years. Never was a problem until my mid-thirties (unless it was post-baby, but I always got my body back eventually). Divorce, sadness, and illness caused my problem. Food became a comfort during a time of life when the metabolism slows down anyway. Bad combination. So - over the past few years I've cleaned up my diet. By that I mean I eat probably 95% real food (there is some slippage and I still enjoy some sweets!). In the last year, I've also consistently exercised. Can I say that the smell of donuts, for instance, now turn my stomach when I walk past the case in the grocery store? It's amazing how when you fuel your body correctly, the intensity of craving junk really does reduce greatly over time! I'm finally heading in the right direction. It's like my body is getting it now. Ever so slowly, I have dropped 25 pounds this year (another 15-20 to go). There have been ups and downs. So, let me encourage you. As an "older woman" at an age when weight loss is not so easy anymore (I'm 46), it is happening! AND I haven't owned a "truly little" little black dress in 10 years. I can't wait to do that again! I used to wear dresses and skirts nearly every day, but I haven't allowed myself to purchase any after I outgrew them until I got in "that size" again. Isn't that silly? Enough ramble....it's just that you girls are not alone in this. Winning this battle while you are young is the way to go! And understanding that it is a spiritual battle is the best first step! I am inspired to keep going.
ReplyDeleteSo glad God is stirring you this week -- and so very glad to meet you here!
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