Weight Loss Episode 10

It's Monday which means another weight loss episode. For the record, I did weigh in tonight, and for the record, I did lose 6.4 pounds. (That's over 2 weeks because I didn't go last week.) But I have no desire to blog about that tonight, but I do have a couple of things to say about weight loss, so here we go...

February of this year, a friend at work told me about the devotional, Jesus Calling. I have learned so much from it. One of the most eye opening concepts in it is the idea of gratitude. I used to view thankfulness as being grateful for the blessings, but my view is changing. I'm slowly learning that gratitude isn't only about the blessings. It's about being thankful for the lesson.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

It reminds me of the stories of Job, Habakkuk, David, Paul, and countless other Biblical figures who 'praised God through the storm.' They are each excellent examples of people who gave thanks in extremely trying circumstances.

So what does all of this have to do with weight loss? Excellent question, Internet. One of my biggest daily challenges is my weight. It's a burden that I've had for as long as I can remember. I've always been the chubby girl. I've never been able to wear whatever I wanted. I've always viewed it as a curse, but this week something changed. 

I am now choosing to be thankful for it. 

I'm choosing to thank God that He is allowing me to really learn about healthy eating. I'm thankful that I won't fear being fat, like so many women do, because I know what that feels like, and I know it's not the worst thing in the world. I'm thankful that I can relate to girls who don't feel like they fit in. I'm thankful that I developed a personality instead of a pretty figure. I'm thankful that I have an area of my life where I can depend on God. It keeps me humble which is always a good thing.

The hardships I go through tend to be minimal, and for that I am extremely grateful. But the truth is, we all have our burdens. Maybe it's singleness or fertility or finances or career or a relationship or weight or health. Whatever you carry around with you, I want to encourage you to look for reasons to be thankful for it. Even if the only thing you're thankful for is the chance to put more trust in the good Lord; it opens your heart to hope and takes the sting out of the adversity. We can rejoice because we are sitting in God's hands. He knows, and that is something to be thankful for.

:j