The Apple of His Eye
That is who we are. We are made to be seen and known because we are made for a God who sees and knows. It’s just who we are. It’s our identity. Taking these things and moving them from head to heart, and from brain to central nervous system, are essential parts of recovery.
A Beautiful Spirit
Barbara’s appearance by the world’s standards would have been labeled as “too large,” “needs to lose weight,” or maybe “obese;” and yet to me, Barbara’s size simply seemed irrelevant. The gentle confidence and kindness in which she carried herself stood out far more to me than her size.
My Secret Struggle
No one would ever know my secret. And to be honest with you, I really felt like this was all normal because it's really all I ever knew. I felt very safe in my own cage, but I really wasn’t free at all.
The Mind of Christ
So how can I walk in victory when the heaviness of old thought patterns and disordered eating habits are rampid? I challenge you to begin a new habit today, come into the presence of your Savior, Redeemer, and Friend; declare to Him, "I can't but You can, I need You Jesus."
Where I Belong
Almost immediately after I started eating, my life, my creativity, and my heart started to stir, like a bear stirring out of a long hibernation. The cave where I had stored the pieces left behind by my rationing, burst into life and started growing and blooming in ways I didn’t think possible.
The Joy in the Journey
If God had told me five years ago that I would be leading prayer groups about body image issues, I would have frozen in place. “No thank you, God. That is the last thing I see myself doing or have any desire to do, ever!” I was right in the middle of the hardest part of my recovery journey.
Cleaning out the Lies
To embrace the beauty God has for me in our moves, I am learning I need to take care of the body I was given. It takes time, sometimes years to uncover and replace lies that we have believed for so long. But let us not give up!
Lessons From the Grey
I was very much a “doer.” Tell me what to do to help my daughter and I will do it, give me a checklist please! There is no checklist for this! I have had to learn more how to “be.” Ugh, I could thrive as a human “doing” yet that is not what my daughter needed.
Glimpses of Grace
Walking toward recovery can be hard on the heart. On the inside, there was a war being fought. I want to share my story in case you need the courage to take one more step and fight one more lie.
The Power of Community
I felt so misunderstood, so alone, and ashamed of my struggles. Nobody in my world felt the intensity of my struggle. Why doesn't anyone "get" me?!
When Community Brings Peace
I discovered that groups were not the issue; it was my head and the thoughts that ran through it- “I'm too old" and “I’m not the same as everyone else”. My built-up fear and anxiety about new surroundings only added to my insecurities. However, once I let go, the Lord taught me a huge lesson.
"Phone-A-Friend"
You have a Lifeline; you have direct access to the best “phone-a-friend" there is! Learn how to add prayer and intimacy with God into your daily routine.