How can it be Monday already? Goodness, the weekend went way too fast, and
although I didn’t manage to accomplish too many things off my ‘list’, the past couple of days were
“people-productive” because I was able to spend some time with friends, both in
person and via phone, attend the basketball game and cheer on the Mid Michigan
Community College (my workplace) Lakers, take a friend to church who is
searching for a God’s grace and help, cook a nice dinner for a friend and some
extra dishes so that will have some leftovers to make it easier for him with
his pending surgery later this week. At
the end of the day (or weekend) I guess that’s what really matters to me
anyway….that my life can be changed by the presence of others and that I, in
turn, can make a difference for someone as well. Although my laundry didn’t get
done, my winter clothes are still in the bin on the corner, and the house is a
mess, if I look at it ‘another way’ that it was a good weekend. I hope your
weekend went well too!
As I was reflecting, (okay, you got me….wishing….. that the
weekend had ONE more day so I could get some of my own ‘stuff’ done) my mind went
to the scripture from 1 Corinthians 13 about love. If you are familiar with
scripture, you might recognize the passage because it used often at weddings. I’m
not thinking about romance or relationships this morning, or the whole Love is patient, Love is kind…..words of the
entire chapter, but just the first couple of verses and how these words connect
to my journey:
If I speak in human and angelic tongues* but do not have love, I am a resounding
gong or a clashing cymbal.a 2And if I have the gift
of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith
so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.b 3If I give away
everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not
have love, I gain nothing…….Love is Patient; love is kind….and so on.c
My priest said
something at Mass yesterday that is also on my mind this morning. He said, and
I’ve said it myself often, that he doesn’t think that when he dies God is going
to ask him about how much money he has; what kind of car he drives; whether he
is a Republican or Democrat, a U-M or State fan, etc….but rather…. “What did
you do to help someone in need….what did you do to feed the hungry…etc.”
As I sit here thinking
of my own death, I wonder what God will ask me.
I’m guessing it WON’T be the type of questions I get asked on a pretty
regular basis…. “SO, Theresa, how much weight did you lose? How did you do it? What size do you wear…..what about the excess
skin….what did you eat for breakfast…. And so forth…” I’m guessing that NONE of that will matter in
the end, and I’m thinking I might be asked, “SO, Theresa…. I blessed you with a 2nd chance at life; I
helped you change your reality; I helped you walk again and changed your sorrow
into joy……so….what did you do with that…..how did you use that new life to help
others? How did you use this miracle to
make a difference for someone else?”
It would be much easier
to answer the weight related questions...but I know in the end, my life will be
measured, not in pounds or sizes, but rather in love. It was REALLY hard to lose the weight and
change my life….and it’s even HARDER to keep it off….but neither of those will
be as hard as it is to answer THAT question, and yet I realize that God is
helping me change my life on a daily basis solely so that I can use it to help
others. This is a true joy and
privilege, but also a responsibility and mission that I must remind myself of
on a daily basis. It also means that many of my own ‘stuff” gets left undone
and I’m often weary. Please continue to pray for me…to have the energy I need;
the words to console; and the wisdom to make good decisions.
If I were to take the
liberty to ‘paraphrase’ the words of the above scripture a bit to capture my
thoughts this day, it would read…. “If I am blessed with the gift of a day, a
new opportunity to try again, but spend it worrying about tomorrow or fretting
about the mistakes of yesterday….then the day is just 24 hours of meaningless
time. If I am blessed with a miracle…and don’t use it to help inspire others
and give hope to the discouraged, then it is nothing more than a story used to
sell magazines or fill up space in the newspaper. If God helps me lose 250+ pounds, helps me
regain my mobility and become a participant in life again….and I spend all of
my time and energy focused on things that do not really matter or sweating the
small stuff, do not continually ask God to change my thoughts and transform my
INSIDES; do not offer gratitude for ALL things….then I would be nothing but a
smaller version of “Old Theresa” with a bunch of clothes that are much too
large. I could go on and on…but I think you get the drift. Try it with your own
‘paraphrase’.
The weight loss….the 6X
clothing I used to wear…the “Theresa doesn’t live here anymore” signs or the
empty walker….the words I write…the presentations I give or the pictures I post…..would
be/are meaningless if I don’t use them for God’s glory ….and Yet, I recognize
that it was virtually impossible for “Old Theresa” to do anything but get
through each day…without the weight loss. I was merely existing….and secretly
hoping to die and escape my reality.
I am so grateful for
the changes that God has helped me make in my life, but I recognize that they
are merely a ‘visible” sign of His grace. The most important changes are the
one that happen each and every day….in my heart and in my mind. It is no wonder that the words of this clip
today resonate so deeply within.
Create a life within
that feels good on the inside not just one that looks good on the outside.
Weight loss, sobriety,
being smoke-free, being physically fit (whatever your goal) is AWESOME…but it
means nothing without kindness, compassion, and love. Likewise, a spotless house; a sizeable nest
egg; a fancy car or jewels; good health; an intelligent mind; retirement; or
the gift of time……while still incredible blessings from God….mean little if we
don’t use what we have to make a difference for someone else.
As you continue to make
the changes in your life to improve your health and well-being, I encourage you
today to seek ways to bring hope, love, and joy to someone else. Certainly,
focus on YOU…your journey…your needs…your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual
health because that is so important…but don’t forget to express gratitude;
spread joy; and do what you can to help someone today. Without love….everything else is just “stuff’;
a new day is just a check mark on the calendar; and a healthier, trimmer body
is just a place to put smaller size clothes.
Have a wonderful day today…..
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