For the past several months I have been on a journey...a 'getting healthy and losing weight journey.' A few weeks ago, I was asked to share my journey online since I started my 'plan of getting healthier.' I was happy to do so, and glad that I did! I am proud of the hard work I have done over the past few months and I have definitely changed my daily habits and formed better, healthier habits. I believe this has been a good change and definitely a more permanent one for my family in many ways. I mentioned in my 'journey-sharing' time that I was trying hard to keep myself from OBSESSING over my weight in the midst of losing weight and forming new habits. It's a tough balance, friends, let me tell ya! Tough. I didn't realize how tough until today. I didn't have a handle on it like I thought.
I had lunch with one of my best friends today. Well, we actually spent the day together. One of the MANY subjects we talked about was our bodies and a way of looking at our bodies in a healthy way. She mentioned a time a few nights ago, when we were out with a bunch of friends and I had said something to the group about working out extra hard that day in order to have some extra yummy food that night. Her point: making comments like that is not a healthy way to talk and encourages the exact thing we Christian women should NOT be obsessing over, which is getting our confidence and self-worth from the way we look physically. She's right. That is exactly what that comment portrayed. This part of the conversation today was hard to hear and kind of embarrassing, but I am so glad we had it because it reminds me that I need to be more intentional about what I say. While that comment in and of itself was not intended to reflect my opinion of how women should think of their bodies, I realize that our culture is SO obsessed with physical looks and telling our young girls, teenagers, young mamas, and even elderly women that their physical bodies and looks is what makes them acceptable, pretty, and desirable. The obsession with looking good becomes our identity instead of our desire to be like Christ. I was reflecting my culture not Christ. I do honestly believe that we should be teaching our children that physical looks is not something to ignore but it is also something that we need to keep in perspective as a priority in our lives. I need to make sure the words I use backs up my belief. My theory means nothing unless I can apply it in my life. I want my sons and daughter to hear their mama talk in a way that gives them confidence no matter their physical looks because God made them in his image. Physicality is just a part of that image...not the defining factor.
So...for those of you that read this...I need help! Listen to how I talk, the comments I make and tell me when I reflect Christ and when I don't! For my friend who talked to me in love about this...thank you! Speaking the truth is hard to hear but thank you for doing it in love.
