The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Sport or Fitness (02/15/07)
It’s time.

I took a deep breath and walked slowly towards the little blue square that would make or break my day. I took everything off and started thinking of pretty pink and white lily thoughts, hoping that it would make me feel lighter inside. I took another deep breath as I step on the scales, invisibly tucking in my belly jowls, not daring to breathe out. Right foot, left foot, and then – 77 kilos.

77 kilos…77 kilos! I wanted to cry in frustration. I have been weighing 77 kilos since I gave birth and that was like almost two years ago. God, please help me! I’m desperate! I went to the kitchen because my desperation was making my tummy sound like a gas factory and I debated whether I should eat the left over blueberry cake from last night or splurge on thick peanut butter with nuts c/o Skippy or munch on my high fiber crackers that smelled like cow dung sometimes. Tough decision. Oh well, I decided to economize and finish the cake as my mother’s words about not wasting food because many people don’t have food to eat echoed in my mind. The cracker and peanut butter can last a long time.

And besides, I promised myself I will go to the gym before lunch and sweat out the sweets. Lunch time came and I was so busy playing with my daughter that I decided to wait until she napped in the afternoon so I wouldn’t have to miss our time together. An hour and two bowls of rice later, she was finally ready so I lay down with her to make sure she would sleep. Two hours later, my daughter poked my nose and I realized I gave in to the traditional siesta that plagues many of my country people. Oh well, my husband was about to come home soon and I wanted to be there for him, as a good wife should. He came, we talked, we played with the little one, and then it’s time for dinner. We ate, played a little, put the darling to bed, watched TV, then it’s time for us to sleep. Again, I was facing my little blue square accuser, and blinking back depression while I shoved the thoughts of Oreo and milk out of my blurred vision, I looked at myself in the mirror.

I looked and all I saw were imperfections. At the same time, the picture sticking out behind the mirror, showing my small family’s big, icing-covered smiles during my daughter’s first birthday, caught my attention. We looked so happy together in contrast with the drooping mouth of discontentment that the face in the mirror possessed. All of a sudden I felt convicted by the Lord. Why was I starting to obsess with the way I look? Is focusing on my body more important than thinking of ways to serve my Father in heaven through Jesus? Many women out there would trade for my watermelon stretch marks if it would mean having a healthy baby or my dangling “excessories” just for a husband who loves me…fats and all. And yet, I was focusing on what’s really immaterial in the long run. A healthy body and a healthy lifestyle is important but not if these are fast becoming stumbling blocks in our quest to put the Lord God in the center of our lives.

I looked back again, to the happy faces and to myself in the mirror. I stared long and hard and knew exactly when the light came into my eyes. I needed to let go. Let go and let God. This may be the most pathetic homework that I had ever thrown His way, but I needed His grace to grant me self-control. I needed to show Him my love by appreciating and loving me first and believing that I am one of His masterpieces and that He takes pleasure in me as His own child…fats and all.

I looked at the little blue square scale and with renewed confidence, I decided to junk it. There’s a big sale tomorrow anyway. A new one might help =)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 900 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
julie wood
02/22/07
I loved reading this! The beautifully vivid descriptions make everything come alive. My favorite phrases: "pink and white lily thoughts," "tummy sounds like a gas factory," "watermelon stretch marks," "dangling excessories," "little blue square accuser."

I could see and feel everything the narrator was experiencing--and identify with it personally as well. Great message, too. Great job!
Donna Powers
02/24/07
I can relate to this as well. I struggle with my own weight and some days I could have been the narrator of this piece. Well written!
Sara Harricharan
02/27/07
This was cute. I liked the end with dumping the little blue square in case of a new one. The message was clear and very well told. Your descriptions were good and I like how you brought in emotions and feelings that other readers could relate to. Very well done! ^_^
cindy yarger
02/28/07
Good description. I enjoyed following your thoughts. Good idea to toss out the scale!