A good thing to lose

I was driving home the other day flipping through a CD that I had not listened to all the way through yet.  The title of one of the songs has been resonating in my head.  The song was called: What do you have to lose?  It has me thinking about a few good things to lose.

For those of you who know me well, are probably wondering if I am going to talk about weight loss.   The answer is NO, not exactly, well maybe a little.  I am still currently not in favor of doing anything remotely like exercise or dieting.  I have said it before, I NEED TO, but I am not committed in my head.  Although I did see a picture of me today, and thought to myself, "HELLO CHUBBY!  What is up with those rolls, and who let you leave the house like that!"  It is still not enough to make me throw away the bag of M&M's I have hidden in my drawer.  Let's face it, there will be NO YOGA in my immediate future.  After all, I believe yoga to be a bunch of tree hugging hippies, standing like trees and well, I am not the type to buy recycled paper.

However, a few days after I started writing this, I believe I am coming closer to thinking weight loss is a good thing.  You see, I took my daughter to the park.  It was one of those fancy playground sets with all sorts of twisting things you can hang from and climb.  It also had a faux zip line.  I know what you are thinking: DID YOU?  Why yes, yes I did.  Here is where the change of heart comes in, MY ARMS ARE KILLING ME!  It has been two days and they are still sore.  It might as well have been yoga, because just like yoga, all I was doing was holding my own weight.  There is nothing more eye opening than two days later still hurting from carrying nothing but myself!  Need I mention, I only did it once, and not even for the whole line!

I guess the moral of the story is sometimes the weight you carry is unnecessary and you should just let it go.


Back to my point....

My original thought on this blog was inspired by a reminiscent moment.  I was thinking of things that I had lost that had in fact turned out to be really good things to loose, even if at the time they seemed to be heartbreaking.

The first thing that pops into my mind was when I swore that I would never date again.  I remember the night so well.  It was like a scene out of Bridget Jones Diary, minus the cigarettes and alcohol.  I was listening to that sad song by Ginny Owens, If you want me to....

I was feeling all alone, crying my eyes out.  I was a teary eyed mess.  When I prayed and said this,"  I give up, GOD. I am going to let you take control of my dating life.  I am done."  It was about six weeks later that I met my husband.  I gave up the control I thought I had and give it to God.  Loosing control and letting God in was one of the best decisions I ever made!

Another great loss has been fear coupled closely with guilt. Now I am not saying that I never get scared.  On the contrary I do get scared, but now my fear is different.  While I feel fear I don't feel alone, I feel secure in the arms of Jesus.  Where I had guilt before over a life lead without a walk with Jesus, I feel a blessed assurance of forgiveness.  There are times that my head wants to play back old memories and pretend that they were good, or say that I can not be forgiven.  The keeper of my heart, reminds me that I am not only forgiven but dearly loved and fear and guilt are not of God. "For God does not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

There ARE good things to lose.  I want to keep loosing.  The Bible says:

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."  Mark 8:35

I see this verse differently now.  I think I read it with a worldly eye before, but now I see it with the eye of a growing Christian.  I don't want to save a life that is full of fear, pride, selfishness, and guilt.  I want to lose that life and live the life that is forgiven and loved.  

I guess the moral of the story really is the same:  Sometimes the weight you carry is unnecessary and you should just let it go.

If the weight is physical or the weight of a burden, loosing it is in fact a good thing.  I think each type of weight can pose a difficult challenge.  So I ask, will you be willing to loose your life and give it to Jesus?  Then my next question, to diet or not?

This is my mindset, now let me hear yours!