The View From My Front Porch: Time to Move On

I have moved many times in my life averaging every five years until our present address and we have been here for over nine years now. It doesn't seem possible. And every move there have been neatly labeled boxes that have gone with us but have never been unpacked. With each move the dust is wiped off the top and these precious treasures have been stored awaiting the day that they are needed. They are full of items that, for some reason, have been assessed great worth and are, therefore, worthy of our efforts to keep.

One such box is labeled "Lisa's Size 10". Now I don't know how may people remember when I was a size ten but I promise you it was somewhere between the years of my engagement to Ricky and the birth of our first daughter (1982 -1985). Hold that thought...

Everyone knows that there are some things you just don't ask a girl and the #1 question is how much she weighs. And everyone knows that there are some things that people will stretch the truth about and one of those is ... How much they weigh. Some people are very disciplined and work diligently to keep their weight at the desired level. Others don't ever give thought to what they weigh or how they got there. And others, like me, have moments of both styles, only worrying about it when it becomes a problem, bouncing back and forth from the many fad diets, when we finally face reality that something needs to be done.

A few years ago we purchased a WiiFit program and one of the first things I do when using it is step on the board and weigh in. The little animated "mii" will make some humorous move and a voice I've learned to hate says "Oh, that's OBESE". WOW!! What a reality check! There's nothing quite like an inanimate object being so truthful at 6 a.m. I quickly learned to mute the TV before my early morning weigh-in but that didn't erase the truth - that I was obese. But this past summer, due to some health problems I decided that I would get serious about making some changes in my life and take off some weight.

After several months of the ELMM diet (eat less, move more) I stepped on the WiiFit board and heard "Oh, that's overweight". Now I know that was supposed to sound better but seriously... I did not feel any better about myself. I had moments when I wondered "why try" and there were days when the EMML (think about it, you'll figure it out) was the preferred diet but an image of me at a much older age would form in my mind and I would remember that I want to be known as the fun grandma - someday.

I am proud to say that the day finally came when the Wii could no longer taunt me by saying negative things about my weight. And somewhere in the storage room there was a box labeled "Lisa's Size 10" waiting to be opened. A little forethought at this moment would have helped prepare me for what was about to happen. But I was so excited to think that there would be one less box to move next time that I didn't even consider the fact of how fashion styles have changed in 30 years. There was not one single item in there that I would dare to wear in public.

Many times we hold on to things from our past. By keeping a box of clothing in a size much smaller than I could wear I was holding on to a desire to be that size again. But keeping the box did not make the dream a reality. It took effort on my part. And once the goal was reached the truth was that things had changed around me and the way things were in the past is not how things are meant to be for me at this time in my life. I will never look as good in those things as I remember them being in the past.

Are there things in your life that you've held onto thinking that you should keep but knowing deep inside you that they are not a good fit? For me it was a process but once I looked in the mirror and was honest with myself I knew it was time to let them go. At first I was sad because there was nothing wrong with them - no holes, no tears, no missing buttons. But they just are not my style any more. So out they go! It was a good feeling once I faced the truth.

I've lost 40 lbs. and feel great but I'm not through. And even though there is no box labeled "Lisa's Size 8" waiting for me to try them on there is a picture in my mind of an energetic grandma chasing after her neighbor's beautiful little girls - cause I'm too young to be chasing my own grandchildren - just yet! ;-)

Life lesson: Look at your life and ask yourself if you are where God truly wants you to be. If not, what do you need to change to get there? It's not always easy to make those changes but there is never true peace if you are not living in God's will.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

1982