Jan 19, 2011

I DO NOT Heart Sacrifice.

I enjoyed all of your comments from Monday's post on my fasting sweets. Well, I enjoyed some of them. I quite honestly despised Laurel who said she hadn't ever fasted, didn't have any plans to fast and would be happy to double her sweets-eating for over the next three weeks. Be gone, Laurel!

Just kidding.

She wasn't the only one who broke my heart. My sweet friend Dana so elegantly wrote that she was eating chocolate while typing her comment. Is rudeness like that even allowed on the Internet? I think that is called "cyber-bullying" Dana!

And there were those of you who praised my spiritual strength. (I could barely type that phrase without laughing. Me? Spiritual strength? Check with me when this is over.)
Katy (Katy, how funny that you put Hebrews 10:24-25 on your last post because I am allll about that. Spur me on, won't you?)...
Amanda (Oh. And dear Amanda, I may not be the Pioneer Woman - not even sorta close - but promise me that if I ever come to Columbus you and your bff will at least take me to Chili's. I mean, c'mon.)...
Andrea (How is Operation Wedding weigh-loss going? Are you following my plan? Don't!!)
and Missy (Missy, could your blog family picture be any cuter? Seriously. Work on that for me, will ya?) actually encouraged me! (Make a note, Laurel.)

And then there was Crazy Sister (who I knew instantly that I liked when she posted about the terrible flooding in Australia and whether or not she should cut her hair all in the same post) made me laugh when she told me she hoped it "proved worthwhile for me by the end." You and me both, sister. You and me both. And then there was Andi (Mexican casserole is not off limits to me, so thank you for that recipe on your blog) who reminded me that I would grow from this and it wouldn't be in dress sizes. We shall see Andi, I have never known my dress sizes to obey anything I've ever told them. Ever.

And you're right, Marlene. The fact that you are actually doing the Daniel Fast whole-hog meant I did NOT want to hear from you. Next time, I would appreciate you following the rules. It makes me feel better about myself.

But now a word to MBush, Dysfunctional Mom , my friend Kim Little and sweet Lindsey who thought, in their precious good-natured hearts, that they were actually going to suggest a healthy alternative for me. Yes, I know golden raisins are yummy and of course I suppose I could get my grocer to grind up some peanuts and make my own peanut butter. But have y'all just recently started reading my blog? I mean, did y'all just start reading it yesterday? Because if you knew me - at all - you would know that I can't possibly eat any of these things for fear that they would, in fact, satisfy me therefore causing me to quit my bellyaching and incessant whining and focus my attention on something other than me. And if you knew me - really knew me - you would know.........that ain't gonna happen.

Seriously.

Then what fun would it be every night at my house around 8:15 when I start whining and saying, "I just want one Chips Ahoy. One Oreo. Please? AG, just give me one bite of ice cream and I promise I won't say another word the rest of the night. Please? Just one bite. Just one M&M. Just one. Fine, I'll just open up my mouth and you shoot in some Hershey's syrup. That's more like a drink, anyway. Please? Why not? You know what? Don't answer that. I loooooathe you."

And you want me to eat raisins?

Pastor Chip Ingram says that sacrifice is "forgoing something valued for the sake of something having a more pressing claim."

That is the kind of sacrifice I am identifying with. I make jokes all the time and sometimes I know its hard to tell when I'm serious (my lovelies, I hope you know if your name is listed here, I love you. I don't despise you. Even you, Laurel and Dana.) But I could easily sacrifice reality television - even though I love it and know its terrible for the soul. I could even sacrifice People magazine and the occasional pedicure.

But sacrificing sweets is sacrificing something that has become bigger to me than it needs to be. Its setting aside something that has had a front row seat for far too long. In order to let that that has been sitting on the back row move to its rightful spot.

I, like the friend I mentioned, hope it proves worthwhile in the end. But even if no fireworks go off. Even if Billy Graham never calls me to ask me how I did it. And even if on day 31 if I wake up and still don't look like Halle Berry, I can still rest in the knowledge that for once I said "no" to chocolate and "yes" to obedience. "No" to what I want and "yes" to what He wants. "No" to my pleasure and "yes" to His gain.

Though looking like Halle Berry never hurt anyone, Lord. Just sayin'.

11 comments:

Desha said...

Our church is also doing a 21 day fast, and my mother is doing just water for the first week, and then the Daniel fast. Since I am no where near as godly as she is, you inspired me to give up something that is near and dear to me. I am also going to give up sweets for the 21 days. I eat chocolate every.single.day. and don't know how I am going to get through, but if you can do it, I can do it!

Andrea said...

Ohhh the Operation would be going better if I was giving up sweets, too. I don't know if I can. American Idol starts tonight. Maybe I'll start with potatoes. Ugh I don't know which is worse. If only I weren't a carb-o-holic. I also had words with my Wii Fit a couple months ago and I am not looking forward to crawling back to it and apologizing ;)

Andrea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andi said...

I just finished off a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos.

This has nothing to do with your post.

I just felt the need to confess that abomination to someone and you were convenient.

Austin & Amanda Wallis said...

I hear ya on the definition of sacrifice. I'm currently struggling with what to give up for lent...something that is difficult(like facebook), like it SHOULD be, or something that sounds hard but for me really wouldn't be...like snacky goods. It sounds good to give up snacks, but that's no sacrifice for me.

Sure sounds more fun though. I do love facebook!

Good luck with your sweet teeth :)

Rachel said...

You can do it!

votemom said...

so... my daughter and i totally talked about you during the bachelor on monday night while eating our bowls of chocolate ice cream.

we heart you!

Cyndy Bush said...

Okay fine, Raisinets then??
Seriously, I have never fasted and I can't even imagine it, but big props to you! I hope you fill us all in on what you eat when it's over!

Laurel said...

Okay! I really was trying to help! I'd take all those sweets for you so you wouldn't be tempted. Really! I was only thinking of you! Seriously, I don't know if I could ever garner enough strength to even THINK of giving up sweets but you have and I'm sure you'll do it! This is easy compared to other things in life, right?

Unknown said...

Maybe you should make a paper chain with how many fasting days you have left, then each day you can take your fasting frustrations out on one of your paper links.

Amanda said...

You know, we would take you to Chili's, but they're all gone from our area. So sad. We still get to drool over the commercials though.
I love how you said you'll be able to say that you said NO to what you want and YES to obedience. I need to do that.