Weekly Wellness Word: Unburden
There is an old saying that the cobbler’s children go without shoes. Why is it that once we make something “work” that we only do that task for others and not for ourselves and those closest to us. It’s a puzzle indeed with no easy answers.
Two years ago we launched Wholly Yours, our whole person weight loss program. I was so excited to share with others the approach to weight loss that had helped me lose 65 pounds. Since then, every woman who has gone through our program has been blessed by it.
But guess what? In that two years I have actually regained much of the weight that I had lost. Quickly, the enemy of my soul wagged his finger at me accusingly, casting doubt on the joy I have experienced from the holistic healing that I have received. I cried out to God with my deep “Why”, and I received an encouraging response. One night in that state halfway between awake and sleep, God gave me a verse in the Book of Hebrews and a poem.
OBESITY
by Sister Dixie Vargo, OCL
Obesity is about more.
More than diet, movement and genetics.
Sometimes, oftentimes it’s so much more.
The weight around our middle is a symptom
Of the weight on our shoulders,
The burdens we cannot bear alone.
The heaviness of our body is an outward expression
Of our heaviness of heart,
The grief, loss, and disappointment we carry.
The pounds on our pouch
Echoes from our pounding head,
Too full, too distracted and confused.
Our oppressive size a mirror reflection
Of our oppressed, harassed spirit.
“We must take off everything that is heavy.
We must put off all wrong,
Wrong things that get in our way. We must not stop running until we reach
the mark that has been put in front of us.”
(Hebrews 12:1b WE)
Last weekend, our pastor preached a sermon about freedom. He quoted this verse.
“The Spirit of Adonai is upon me; therefore he has anointed me to announce Good News to the poor; he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the imprisoned and renewed sight for the blind, to release those who have been crushed.” Luke 4:18 CJB
This verse gives me cause to hope, to not give up, to lay aside all that which is invisible that is weighing me down in the visible realm of my body. One of the things that we talk about in Wholly Yours is how important it is to break the bonds of condemnation. My story of obesity is about more than diet, exercise and my family history, although those are definitely factors that I need to address. But I must start with what is weighing me down within. Real transformation moves from the inside out.
I know that the Lover of my soul also loves my body. Just as God has rescued my soul from death, my body can find new life as well. It happened before and it will happen again. My journey is a labyrinth rather than a straight road. Though it seems as if I have moved away from my goal, God is continually moving me forward, closer towards my healing.
If my story resonates with you, we invite you to take this journey with us. I am determined not to give up, no matter how many times the enemy tells me that I have failed. How about you?
To learn more about how you might lay aside your own “weight”, we invite you to share in an online conversation with us. No registration or fees are required for the online meetings listed below.
Introduction to Holistic Wellness
Sat, 1/29/22, 9:00 AM ET
Wholly Yours Interest Meeting
Sat, 2/5/22, 9:00 AM ET
To join one of these meeting, click the link below.