The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” Proverbs 27:12
This is the kind of story I don’t like writing. Since some of you know me and some of you don’t, I’ll start by saying that I have issues. Yup…and more than one. With that said, this story is about my health issues. All my life I have had this battle with my weight. Although people say I wear it well, I pack more baggage than I need to carry on this trip called life. Consequently, most of the time I am either on the way up…or on the way down. That’s just the way it is. And honestly, it is all about—sugar.
You see, I love snacks, and, I love sweet snacks. Now I’m not talking about candy though I’m not saying I would turn down a Butterfinger. No, I like the baked stuff and I am an equal opportunities eater. Pies, cakes, donuts, cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls—if it is baked and sweet—count me in. To help counter the calories, I do try and exercise—at least some. In fact, at the beginning of 2021 I managed to walk a couple of miles a day, five and six times a week for months. Yay for me…but then something happened. However, and whatever the cause, sometime in late fall I quit and when I quit—it happened. The flat-out truth is I started gaining girth like a snowball going downhill.
Well, I did what any self-respecting foodaholic does—I just quit getting on the scale and, oh yes, I quit checking my blood sugar too. Did I mention that I am a diabetic? Did you also know that donuts, cake, pie, cookies, and brownies don’t go with diabetes? But don’t worry, I’m not a severe diabetic. That’s another way you quit doing the right thing. You simply justify your behavior. A guy said this week that justifying is “just a lying.” Ouch.
I was a recipe, no pun intended, for disaster. I could tell I wasn’t doing well. I could feel my body saying, “Excuse me.” After binge eating on whatever was sweet one recent Sunday, I got on the scale on Monday. Holy moly. I also checked my blood sugar on Monday. Holy moly the second time. Good grief. I was so frustrated with myself. I didn’t even have to ask; how did it happen? I knew…all too well. In fact, a friend asked me what I did to end up there. I told him the answer was, “What didn’t I do?”
Here’s the deal. You know those red lights and crossing guards at railroad crossings? Do you know the consequences when you ignore them? Well, I ignored the lights and the crossing guard and the easiest way to do that was just quit—quit weighing and quit sticking your finger. Anybody can tell you the truth of this. To start down the wrong path just STOP doing the things that help you be accountable. Maybe, your AA meetings. Maybe your exercise. Maybe going to church. Maybe reading your Bible. Well, the list goes on and on.
I stumbled on a really, good verse in the book of Proverbs. It says a wise person will see danger and take cover. A foolish (or inexperienced) person will see the same danger and keep right on going. That’s a good verse. No, that’s a great verse. What about you, what is it in your life right now that you can see the red lights flashing and the crossing guard down? More importantly, what are going to do with it? Trust me…it is really important. You see that decision will determine your regrets and consequences. Remember that “holy moly” moment I wrote about? Yup, that’s the deal.
The answer is simple. Stop saying tomorrow and start today. There’s a saying I just love—when you are tempted to stop, just remember why you started. I know I’m only just started but already I can feel and see a difference. When I visit my doctor again in about three months, I hope we can have a different conversation than the one we had recently. I am grateful that my body still responds to doing the right things. And for me it is relatively easy…at least with these two things. But trust me there are other things that are a daily battle.
The good news is I have Someone who stays by my side…as the Bible says, a friend closer than a brother. Who would that be? My Dearest Daddy. He is for me and never against me. He has things planned for me that are too good to miss. I know this season of COVID has messed with our spiritual stuff badly. But I hope you will make the decision, today, to “get back on the scale.” Your Heavenly Father will be there to help. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 