Let the Morning Tip the Scale

This post is by Martha Buford.

It happened slowly, ever so slowly. If I had not been looking for it, I might not have seen it. I did not notice any difference at first, but then one day there it was, there was room to move in my once skintight jeans. Faithfulness had paid off. This blog is not so much about weight loss as it is about doing daily what we know to do and seeing that faithfulness pays off.

 I was well past middle age and struggling with my growing middle. Nothing was working. Then a friend suggested this app that had helped her, so I tried it. I was pleased that there were no fads, no exotic ingredients, no constant deprivation. Just steady encouragement in patterns of good, healthy, eating along with tracking consumption, water, weight, and steps, one choice at a time. So, I committed, what did I have to lose? Oh, yes, more than I will admit.

One of the big ideas I read about was how to accomplish something difficult by mixing it with something you enjoy. Each morning I habitually reach for my cup of coffee with anticipation. I never forget. I do it every day. It gives me time to think, and pray, and plan. I wondered what unpleasant thing I could mix with that sacred pleasure. So, I added five minutes of reading to my morning routine. Five minutes of daily reading about healthy eating, daily motivation on wise food choices, breaking down lies about food, eating and body image. Then I headed into my day with a plan to log my water, plan my meals, and get my steps in. I chose a morning routine that motivated me to work toward my goal, by mixing what I need to do with what I love to do.

 One morning at work I was admitting a patient for his colonoscopy. He was 78, a healthy weight, and not on any medications, he was just getting his routine checkup. I asked him how he did it, how he stayed so healthy. He said it is just a daily choice. I keep doing daily what we all know we should do. I eat well, exercise regularly, drink water, and moderate my stress. Each day comes whether I choose it or not. But the choices I make that day are mine. I can let the day just unfold or I can choose to live daily, balancing my stress and rest, and my intake and activity, and that is how his daily choices gave him a long, healthy life.

When I started the journey to healthy living, I was sixty, obese, and tired, disappointed that I had let this happen. Then came the first morning, it was no different from yesterday, except that I was paying attention. I weighed myself, I drank water, I ate a small breakfast, I spent a few minutes reading my morning motivation. I let that morning be the start of something fresh and new. I let the morning bring me renewed motivation. Then I put one foot in front of the other and went through my day. The next day I did the same thing, and the next, and the next. Not every day was perfect, not every day was a success, but it was daily. And slowly the scale yo-yoed its way down, my taste buds preferred real food over fries, and walking was an enjoyable way to get fresh air and a fresh perspective. Not striving or struggling, I let the morning bring me a fresh start.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. (Psalm 143:8). There is no pressure in that statement, no angst. It reminds me of the mornings when my husband says with a smile, let me bring you another cup of coffee. There is no work in that for me, just saying yes. Our heavenly Father is there every morning wanting to give us a new perspective. His mercies are new every morning and He is there waiting to bring us words of His unfailing love. He wants to bring us good things, every day, every morning. So today, and daily, I choose to say yes, to let Him bring me words of encouragement, words of His unfailing love. Tomorrow I will do the same, and the next day, and the next, trusting Him with my days, and gradually the scales will tip as I daily trust Him. Let the morning bring...allow the morning to bring to you what you need each day. The one who created the morning will meet you there and prepare you for whatever this day holds.

 Being born as Martha in name and character I have learned the value and beauty of choosing the better part, of sitting at Jesus' feet. Though my journey has led me through missionary life in four countries, teaching and ministering through many natural and man-made disasters, I have learned that the moments spent with Jesus are of more value than adrenaline or accolades. Find out more about Martha through her blog, http://martha-sittingathisfeet.blogspot.com, or https://www.womenspeakers.com 

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash