The Aughts in Review

No one really seems to know what to call this decade that began with the year 2000 (remember Y2K?) and ends today. The first decade of the 1900’s was known to many as “The Aughts,” a term that has mostly fallen out of use now, but some use it to refer to this decade, for lack of a better term. I happen to like it, so, “The Aughts” it is.

I’ve been thinking back through the decade over the last few days, and I believe I can say it was my best one yet. Of course there have been a few bad times, but far more good ones.

Beginning on January 2, 2001, my nieces and nephew came into my life one by one. God hasn’t given me any children of my own so far, but I am so thankful for these children whose lives I can be a part of, watching them grow and learn and building relationships with each one of them.

Also in 2001, I joined Weight Watchers and lost 90 pounds, mostly during that year. I had come to the conclusion that I was destined to be a “fat” person, that nothing could change that, but thankfully, I was wrong. I do still struggle with my weight and have gained some of it back, though I have kept a substantial portion of it off and now know I am capable of losing the rest if I choose to.

I had been in Bible Study Fellowship since the late 90’s, and during the ‘00-’01 and ‘01-’02 years, I was asked to be treasurer, which required me to stand up in front of as many as 300 people every few weeks and give a brief report. At first I was terrified, but as time went on, I became more comfortable. During the ‘02-’03 and ‘03-’04 years I was a discussion group leader, a time of huge spiritual and personal growth. This experience was also where I met Ramelle, the friend who would ultimately introduce me to . . .

Don. We began dating in March of ’04, and in August of ’05, we were married. At nearly 39, I had pretty much given up on the idea of ever getting married, but God is faithful. His choice for a mate for me was far better than any I could have ever made, and though we may not fully understand His timing in this life, it is perfect. I am so thankful that I am going into this next decade with Don by my side.

Shortly after we were married, Don gave me a birthday gift that I had wanted for a long time: a flute. I took lessons, and while it has been a challenge for me (and I am not as dedicated as I should be), it has been a great experience to be able to play along with Don on our church’s worship team and also be a part of a community band.

I have had my dog Dasha since 1998, but in early 2007, Nash arrived and turned our world upside down. The first year with him was a huge challenge, but he has since turned out to be a really good dog who brings a lot of joy and laughter into our home.

In mid-2008 I started to blog. Though I only have a handful of faithful readers (and I appreciate every one of you!), it has been a great outlet for me to express myself in ways that I can’t always do verbally. Those who do read say they feel they know me much better now, and I have also enjoyed reading the blogs of others and getting to know them better.

This decade has also brought some sadness. I have lost several loved ones, including my grandmother, my friend Pam and her daughter Ashley. Even in my grief though, this makes me all the more thankful for my salvation, as I look forward to seeing each of them, as well as other loved ones, again in heaven.

So many other things have happened during this decade -- too many to mention, of course, but the changes have helped me grow in my faith, as well as bringing me joy, peace and confidence, not in them, but through them. God is good. He has brought me a long way, and I look forward to seeing what He will do in my life in The Teens!

Lent

Most years I give up something for Lent. It is usually food-related, that being my biggest vice. I don’t go to a church that practices this; I just choose to do it on my own. One thing that I have discovered is that I need to do it for the right reasons. You don’t give up something for Lent to lose weight. I found that out the hard way one year. I think that was the only year that I totally blew it. I think Lent should be a time of sort of making a covenant with God to make a small sacrifice which is really incomparable with the sacrifice He made for us on that Good Friday nearly 2000 years ago.

So this year, I have decided that for Lent I will stick to Weight Watchers 5 days a week (which will be a big improvement over what I’ve been doing lately). I know it sounds like I am doing that to lose weight, but that’s not really the reason. I need to be disciplined, and I need to be healthy. God tells us our body is His temple, and He wants us to take care of it. I know Weight Watchers to be a good, healthy eating plan. I have prayed about this and feel like it is something I can do which will be a good thing for me both physically and spiritually.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

A Month of Craziness

We’re about to enter into the crazy season. From Thanksgiving ‘til New Years, the world goes insane. My December calendar is already almost full. Plus I have to shop to buy presents that nobody really needs anyway.

Why do I have to do all this? Because I live in America. I have been trying for years to find a way to avoid it all.

It’s not that I completely hate it, but it just seems to me that if we are going to have a celebration of Jesus’ birth, then that’s what we ought to do. Why does it have to be accompanied by so much stress? It’s very unlikely December 25 is actually Jesus’ birthday anyway. The holiday actually has pagan roots. More on that in a future blog.

If I had my way, I would go to church on Christmas Eve and then spend a cozy Christmas day with my family, maybe exchanging small, heartfelt gifts. We would rejoice together in the Savior God sent into the world. Then life would go on (though I think the celebration of Jesus should last all year).

But I feel like I would be considered a "grinch" if I handled Christmas this way, if I didn’t go to any of the parties I was invited to or didn’t give gifts to the people who gave them to me. It’s not that I don’t enjoy parties; I just wish they didn’t all have to be in December. And it’s not that I don’t like to give presents; I just like to do it when I have a good reason or desire to, not just because it’s Christmas.

And why do we have to eat so much? As most anyone who struggles with their weight will tell you, this is by far the most difficult time of the year to control your food intake.

Sorry to be such a stick in the mud. What are your thoughts? Do you love every minute of it, or if not, how do you handle it all?

The Thorn in my Flesh

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." II Corinthians 12:7-9

When I think of my life in general, one of the ways I define myself is as a person with a weight problem. I’m sure the psychologists would tell me not to do that, but I do. It is something I have struggled with since I was a teenager.

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In 2001 I lost 90 pounds on Weight Watchers (see my "before" picture). I had been on Weight Watchers before and tried to lose my weight but never lost much before I fell off the wagon. This time I expected the same, but thought I would at least be better off if I could lose some of it.

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I’m not sure what was different that last time, but I kept going until I reached my goal. Soon afterward I got on staff at Weight Watchers as a weigher to help keep me accountable.

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I did pretty well at maintaining my weight for a few years, though it was a struggle because I still REALLY liked food. Then I got married and my weight started creeping back up, certainly not to where it was before, but way over my goal. It wasn’t Don’s fault; I think I just got comfortable, plus I had another person to cook for so tended to make heartier meals. Weight Watchers graciously continued to let me work for them, optimistically thinking they could rehabilitate me. I have genuinely tried to get it all back off, but don’t seem to have the resolve that I once had.

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I don’t know what Paul’s "thorn in the flesh" was, but I understand how he felt. I have asked God to help me with my weight. Ideally I would like to get back to goal and never struggle again, but I doubt this is going to happen. God is using this weakness to keep me humble and reliant on Him. Because of this shortcoming, I have compassion for others who have problems they can’t seem to overcome, whether it be weight or something else. It also reminds me regularly that I will never be perfect and I must rely on God for my strength and salvation.

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I can’t say that I am thankful for the problem itself, but I am thankful that God is using it to work in my life. I am thankful that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I will continue to fight it, and I will continue to rely on God to help me in my weakness.