I’ve always struggled with my weight.
I’ve been up, and I’ve been down.
Lately, I’ve been more up than down.
And unfortunately, the older I get the harder it is to get down once I’m up!
After multiple unsuccessful attempts to shrink on my own, a few years ago I finally swallowed my pride and surrendered my money to Weight Watchers.
Their scales were cruel. I was higher up than I had ever been.
How am I ever going to lose that much weight? How will I ever endure coming to these boring meetings for THAT long? I think I’m the biggest one here! Maybe I’ll just slip out now and nobody will notice…
But they did notice. So I stayed, but sat as far back in the room as I could. Then the meeting topic was introduced: Emotional Eating. Yeah, I knew something about that subject, and soon the leader was handing out a worksheet.
Oh joy, homework on the first day!
I was instructed to first write down the emotions that triggered my unhealthy eating habits. That was easy. I filled the box quickly—stress, boredom, grief, fear, anxiety, celebration, selfishness, (I just want it!)…the list went on.
In the next box I was to write down all the activities I could do instead of eating when I felt those emotions.
Write down your hobbies, the leader instructed.
What hobbies? I thought. Who has time for hobbies?
I was failing this section, so I wrote down the few lame things I could think of—go for a walk, eat a banana…
Just then a musical chime sounded and I realized I had broken the rules and left my cell phone on during the meeting. As if just being there wasn’t embarrassing enough—now I had everyone staring at me!
I quickly pulled the phone out of my purse to stop the chiming and saw it was my daughter Sarah, a busy sixteen year-old, sending me a text message.
That usually meant one of three things: she was sick, she forgot something, or she had after school plans with her friends. I flipped the phone open. Her message read:
I love you Mom!
That was it. No Mom request for something. No problem. No change in schedule. Just love.
How sweet, I thought.
I turned the phone off and went back to my worksheet. Suddenly the words stared boldly back at me.
Things to Do Instead of Eating.
Get love, was my next thought.
Of course, that’s what I should do! That’s what I really need! No banana or walk will ever fill me up like love will!
I wrote a big “GET HUGS” on my paper. When I got home I threw it away. I didn’t need to know anything else.
I thanked Sarah later that day for her message. She said,
I don’t know why, but all of a sudden I felt like I needed to tell you I loved you.
We know why.
There’s nothing that fills us up like love.
Love from others, love from God. Love when I’m overwhelmed by life, love when I’m sailing through it, and love when I don’t even deserve it.
That’s God’s kind of love. And I am so thankful to have a beautiful daughter to dispense it just when I need it.
When I told her I might be coming to her for more hugs when I’m stressed, bored, anxious, or just fighting a food craving. She said,
I’m here for you Mom.
How many sixteen year-olds would say that?
Jesus with skin on—that’s what she is to me.
By Linda Crawford, Sunny Side Up (not scrambled)
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wendy says
I am crying after reading this, as all my horrible parenting and emotional failing-at-weight-watchers exhaustion of the day comes to a head. I needed to read this tonight.
Linda Crawford says
HUGS to you Wendy!
I pray God sends you someone today to be your “Jesus with skin on” and dispense more of His glorious love to you! God loves you just as you are, right where you are at, and is sending you a text message of His love today!
Holley Gerth says
Nothing fills us up like love–now that is some good truth, girl! Like hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top good! 🙂
Linda Crawford says
You’re right Holley! God’s love is yummy and calorie free too!
Today’s Menu: Faith Lessons My Daughter Taught Me « Sunny Side Up (not scrambled) says
[…] me for breakfast today over at the (in)courage […]
tammie says
thank you. i needed this at this time. <3
Linda Crawford says
Extra HUGS to you today Tammie!
Krissa says
Great post…and what a sweet daughter you have…you must be a wonderful mom! I hope my 4 yr. old will grow up to be just as thoughtful and sweet!
Linda Crawford says
Thanks Krissa! I have an amazing daughter and if I’ve done anything right as a Mom I have to give God all the credit! I’m sure your little one blesses you with lots of hugs too!
Jan says
What a beautiful post! You really learned something that day. It is not about our looks or our things – it is all about our hearts. That is what Christ is telling us – love God and love each other.. We are all beautifully made in His image – He loves all of us just as we are. If we decide to lose weight – count on Him to help us. If we decide to change a habit – count on Him to help us. Don’t look to others. Instead look to God.
Great thoughts, Linda.
Many blessings,
Jan
Linda Crawford says
So well said Jan!
His love is amazing!
Jess says
Wow. You made me cry. I never used to be an emotional eater. But now…now everything triggers it. A bad day with the kids, an argument with my husband, loss of a loved one, boredom… I feel so at a loss and so I stuff food in my face. It doesn’t really make me feel any better and you are right. A hug would probably work much better than the food. Thanks for your post.
Linda Crawford says
My emotional eating really got out of control when I was a new mom, and it just kept going from there, so I know exactly what you mean Jess! Maybe we get so focused on loving and doing for our families we forget to stay filled up on love ourselves! Here’s an extra HUG for your day Jess, and I pray you receive many, many more!
Jess says
Yeah, I can see how this can just continue to spiral. I think we do get wrapped up in everyone around us and forget ourselves. I mean that is what a mother is supposed to do right? Give and give and give to our kids and whatever is left goes to our husbands and unless we are blessed enough to have a husband who is sensitive enough to see our needs (I am told there are some out there,) or we are especially good about communicating our needs, we just have nothing left. Thanks for the hug and for the prayers.
Linda Crawford says
More love and HUGS Jess! Jesus sees your beautiful heart and how much love you pour out and I pray He fills you back up to overflowing!
Jennifer says
What a sweet story! I love to hear how God prompts others to do the very thing someone needed. What a great God, and what an awesome daughter you have! 🙂
Linda Crawford says
Amen to that Jennifer! HUGS to to you!
Elizabeth says
I just love this story!! I too am so blessed to have the most amazing daughter…she is 21 now and a mom as well, but she has been my biggest cheerleader as I have tried and tried again at this weight loss thing! And this morning I woke up to a post on my fb wall that simply said “thanks for being the best mom ever…i love you!” Thank you God for giving us our “Jesus with skin on” people!!
Elizabeth says
oops…her EXACT words were…thanks for being the best momma ever, I’m lucky to have you ♥
Linda Crawford says
Love it Elizabeth! What a blessing you are to each other! HUGS to both of you!
Robin ~ PENSIEVE says
Linda! What a sweet perspective! Oh, how I’m GRATEFUL for God’s perfect timing in sending us EXACTLY what we need when we’re desperate for it!
Your daughter sounds pretty awesome :).
Linda Crawford says
Thanks Robin! She is pretty awesome! May God send you everything you need today–including HUGS!
Lis says
So sweet! I can relate.
Linda Crawford says
🙂 HUGS Lis!
Sarah Crawford says
Hey mom!
I love you. 🙂
Dear everyone else,
I’m about 99.99% sure that you are all wonderful, amazing women. Be encouraged as you go through your day that there are people out there who are praying for you! People you have never even met.
Psst: (One of them is me)
I’m sending a virtual hug your way, and encouraging you to stay strong! God is there to fill all of your needs.
If you let Him. 🙂
Thank you mama for always showing us Jesus’ love when we need it, and encouraging us with your beautiful words!!
Linda Crawford says
You made me cry sweetie! I love you so much!!
Becca Bailey says
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have tears running down my cheeks right now because I needed to hear this for many different reasons. I am not in a place in my life where I get hugs very often – or love – but I want them – and need them. I’m thankful you took the time to write this, so that I know I’m not alone. Bless you.
Anonymous says
I know this is late, but better late than never….
*Big Hug*