The Little Things…

I thought, “It’s just a little thing… it won’t matter.”  I was wrong!  the fact that I have 2 toenails missing from one foot due to injury is a real PAIN (literally and figuratively)!  I surely did not appreciate the function of those nails until I no longer had their protection on the ends of my toes!

This “little thing” has sidelined me from much activity at all.  Several days of not being able to take my morning walks makes me really appreciate it when things are working as they should be and I have no “little things” interfering with my plans and activities.  I am hoping I will be able to get back to my walking routine tomorrow morning… we will see.  Of course, I will have to do some major bandaging where those “little things” are supposed to be or I will be in pain and cause more injury.

How many “little things” are there in my life that I take for granted?  I’m sure there is a huge list of them!  There are lots of “little things” that are important in our spiritual development and my WLJ, too.  Sometimes we just focus in on the “biggies” and assume the little things won’t matter much.  How wrong!  It is developing good habits in the “little things” (daily devotional, prayer, attitudes, making wise food choices each moment, tracking our food and exercise) that really set us up for success.  A series of small steps can cover a lot of territory! 

So I challenge you… pay attention to the “little things” in your life.  So many times the struggle we are in could have been avoided IF we would have developed good habits and placed an importance on the “little things”.  I guess when you get right down to it, there ARE no “little things”… every decision, routine, and step is leading us somewhere.  I plan on being sure I am heading the right direction!  How about you?

Have a blessed weekend!

KAT

Watch Your Step!

Watching where we walk… it’s important!
My tendency is to focus just a few steps in front of me.  I guess this comes from years of severe knee problems and having to be so careful not to trip.  When you have feet the size of boat paddles and knee issues, tripping over tiny things is a real possibility!
Recently I was just walking down the road, listening to praise and worship music, singing along, focusing on a couple of steps ahead… what’s that?  I almost stepped on it without realizing it was there…  It was a SNAKE lying in the road.  I quickly assessed the species of the critter and realized it was a harmless yellow neck snake, and was only about 5 inches long.  I took out my cell phone and snapped a picture, getting just as close as I could to make the tiny snake fill the screen.  (I would show you the picture, but since I have a “dumb” phone and not a “smart” phone I can’t get it off my cell phone. )   DH was off fishing with a friend at the time, so I zoomed a picture off to him with a text that said, “Please come save me from this 5 in. snake!”  His text back was, “5 in. or 5 feet?”  Because I had zoomed in so close to the snake it appeared to him to be HUGE! 
You knew a spiritual/WLJ analogy was coming, so here it is…
What was tiny to me, was huge to him because he had a different perspective.  He could not see the “big picture”, if you will.  How many times does my WLJ (weight loss journey) need a new perspective? 
Sometimes I focus in too close, and the food temptation seems HUGE to me.  When unwise food choices are speaking loudly to me, I need to change my focus.  I need to back out and look at the big picture.  Where do I want to be at weigh-in on Monday?  Where do I want to be this month?  It is not just about a number on the scale, but a life of obedience to the Call God has placed before me. 
Job 23:12 (KJV) 
    Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by how far I still have to go to reach my goal.  Sometimes in the “big picture” we only notice how far or how high we have yet to go.  We don’t focus on what we have gained (and will gain) by taking the journey.  I need to change my focus.  I choose to NOT look at the ultimate weight goal, but have chosen smaller goals.  I’ve started with my 10% weight loss goal, and I am almost there!  Once that is reached I will set another intermediate goal about 20 lbs further down, with a plan to reach it in about 3 months.
Spiritually, we need to keep focused, both near and far.  PS. 119:105 reminds us:
Psalm 119:105 (KJV) 
    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
A lamp sheds just enough light to see right in front of us, just a step or two.  It is important that we focus on the steps we need to take today to work toward our spiritual (and WLJ) goals.  A light illuminates for a longer distance so we can see exactly where we are going.   We also must take time to let the Lord show us exactly where we are heading on this journey. It is so important that we have both perspectives. Of course our ultimate destination is heaven, but the journey on this earth has many paths with twists, turns, and obstacles.  Only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit can we choose wisely when decisions have to be made.  Some decisions are “today” decisions and only affect the present.  Others are “pathway” decisions and will affect our future and the future of those around us.
So, my advice to us all, WATCH YOUR STEP! 
Be aware of what is right in front of you, and also what is just down the path.  God’s Word provides light for both.
Have a wonderfully blessed week!
KAT

The Time Has Come...

The time has come to reactivate "Enjoying the Journey" blog.  I apologize to my 3 loyal followers (HAHA!)for going on vacation for over 2 1/2 years!

What has brought about this change of heart, you may ask.  My life is constantly changing, growing, improving.  I have undertaken a great journey lately, and would like to share thoughts and ideas about it.  This blog was originally created as a thankfulness journal, and I do intend to keep it along those lines.  I also plan on posting once or twice a week about my life journeys... into spiritual awakening and healthy living.

My eyes were opened a few months ago to the realization of where I was headed.  I had been afraid to really look carefully at the road I was on because it meant facing some very difficult truths.

1.  I was headed to a life of severe health problems.  I look at others in my family that are struggling with diabetes, kidney failure, and heart disease and realize that unless I change things I am headed for that, too.  I am very healthy right now, but it is inevitable my good health will not last if I don't take care of myself.

2.  Denial will not change the consequenses of being overweight and a not-so-healthy diet.

3.  As surely as there are drug addicts, nicotine addicts, and alcoholics, I am also an addict... to food.  It has filled empty spots in my life for many years and offered comfort to me when things were difficult.  But like all addictions, it is a big deceiver.  Food tells me it is OK because I NEED to eat to survive.  It tells me a little won't hurt.  It tells me that I can always start a diet tomorrow, or next week, or after the holidays.

4.  Diets don't work.  I have had to fully embrace the truth that diets are temporary, and as soon as you get tired of it, you go back to old eating ways.  And then the weight comes back.  I have proven this many times.

5.  It is all about a commitment.  I am committed to eating wisely for THE REST OF MY LIFE.  I am committed to getting as much activity worked into my week as I can, FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.  I am committed to following an eating plan, counting my Weight Watchers points carefully FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.  It does no good to whine about those who can eat anything they want in huge amounts, never exercise, and still don't gain.  That is not ME, so it really doesn't matter what their metabolism is like.  I have to face the facts and accept them. 

6.  My relationship with Jesus will fill the voids in my life.  This takes effort on my part, and I am committed to regularly schedule time with Him rather than just trying to somewhere squeeze Him into my busy days.  I highly recommend the book Born to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire, by Lysa Terkeurst.

March 15th was the beginning of the journey to greater health.  There have been bumps along the road... a foot injury that brought distance walking to a halt for a few weeks.  But it is working!  This morning I reached a total of 18.5 pounds lost.  In just a couple of weeks I will be at the 10% loss level.  I must admit, that feels GREAT!  I am feeling much better about myself these days, and I am just plain feeling better.  No extra serving of food or huge amounts of calorie laden treats are better than this, or worth the health consequenses.

So there you have it... the map for the journey I am now on.  I'll share with you my journey, the ups, the downs, and other things that pop up along the way.  And the amazing thing is that through God's grace and strength, I really Am "Enjoying the Journey".

Would you like to join me?  Search for a reason to commit.  I have found healthy eating and exercising so much easier this time because I have a strong commitment... I know where I WANT to go (a healthy body and active lifestyle), and I also know where I DON'T want to go (chronic illness and disease) in life.   That makes things easier for me when faced with choices to be made.

KAT

THANKFULNESS MOMENT:  I am thankful my eyes were opened before it was too late, before chronic health problems became a reality in my life.