I try not to talk much about weight loss on my blog anymore. Perhaps it's because I feel like I've made a certain peace with my body. Or maybe it's because I got tired of hearing myself rehash it and try to come up with new ways to lose old weight. Who knows?
Whatever it is, I've lost interest in it. Mostly.
I feel relatively comfortable in my skin these days...and I think part of what's calmed me down is a revelation I've been wrestling with for awhile now.
Growing up in a charismatic church, you really do get a wealth of different personalities. As people, we all approach God differently, and for awhile, it seemed to be a running theme to blame the devil for everything. If you were going through something, it was the devil's fault. And to be honest, I always struggled with that. I believe wholeheartedly that there's an enemy who wants to ruin our lives, but I think it's a bit naive to give him credit for everything. All the time.
It'd be tempting to give ol' Satan the credit for the eating disorders and subsequent battle with food that I've always had, but a few weeks back I started to realize something... There I was saying "God, what is it with this? It's the ONE THING I can never get rid of? It's always there in the back of my mind..." and God's answer was like a smack across the face...
It's also the ONE THING that brings you back to ME.
I don't think it's good that I'm constantly disappointing myself or having to learn and re-learn that I need to be kind to my body, but the results are always a closer walk with Him. Could it be that sometimes we're walking through a storm that's been divinely orchestrated by God? Could that storm be chipping away at who we are, building our character, molding us into the person we need to be before we can move forward into our purpose?
Why do we always assume that when something bad happens, we get to blame the devil?
What if the bad is intended for good? What if HE really is in the driver's seat?
It's hard to think that way because God is good and merciful and kind...but like Max Lucado says "he loves us too much to leave us where we are"...and not leaving us where we might mean putting us through the ringer. It might mean that those difficult things we're dealing with are all a part of His plan. It's those circumstances, those trials and tests and horrible, wretched, ugly-crying times that push us to the foot of the cross, that make us go searching for his will.
Without the storm, would we ever look for shelter?
My issues with my body are not unlike most women's. It seems that even my thinnest and most athletic friends feel the same pressure when they look in the mirror. It's something that we all have in common. I know that I'll never fully conquer the deep emotions connected to this journey, but I also know that I'm not alone in it...and in so many ways, it's made me a better person. A more compassionate, more humble person.
Because of this journey, I am constantly reminded how very much I need Him.
I know I've been doing a lot of giveaways on my blog lately...and that wasn't my intention, but I LOVE to share the cool things I've found...and today I've found a really amazing and very cool thing.
This is my sweet friend, Melody. You probably know her. And her incredible sister, Kathy...
They are the founders of Brave Girls Club. I've never been. Someday, I keep telling her, someday...and she is always gracious and always kind and always tells me I will be welcome whenever I can make it.
More than ever over the past few months, I've been reminded of her sweet and gentle spirit, and her desire to encourage women--just like us. She's been a constant inspiration to me. A cheerleader, a soul sister, a friend. And she's doing something that speaks right to the very heart of me.
An online class called "Body Restoration."
Make peace with your body through art and journaling.
Really? Is she talking right to me?
I'm on deadline right now. CRAZY, insane deadline, finishing my third book and planning for my launch party for the first book...and I can tell you I am going to try my very hardest to participate in this class...and I hope you'll join me. Because if there's one thing I've learned it's that every bit of knowledge we soak up is one step closer to becoming who we are.
Every storm teaches us something...could this be the next tool to help me on this journey?
Could it be the tool to help you on yours?
Melody is offering THREE spots in this class to one of my readers, and I sure hope one of them is YOU. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will draw three random winners Monday night (late). Class starts Tuesday, but you won't be behind, I promise!
And if you don't win, think about this class. I have a feeling it's going to change a lot of lives.
You can find out more about Body Restoration by clicking HERE.
