July 24, 2006
My Love Affair With
Food
Last night, I was talking with a dear friend about why I love
food. She struggles with the same thing and when I mentioned
that I thought one of the roots of the problem was that I was
a "latch-key" kid, she replied, "me too!"
We had both learned to turn to food to fill the void of an empty
home.
I once saw a story on The 700 Club about a young woman
who battled drug addiction. She said, "Mom and Dad weren't
there, but the drugs were." That was the way it was for
me and food. It was the one friend I knew I could always count
on.
Over the years, the Lord has brought wonderful people into my
life who have more than made up for the love I missed out on
back then. I attend a church where I know I am valued, cared
about, loved and supported. It’s a tremendous blessing.
But when I think back on what it was like growing up alone,
I realize, it wasn't just love that I missed out on. What I
longed for most was someone to share my life with and my hard-working
parents could rarely fill that need. Now, as a single woman,
that remains an ongoing struggle.
During the day, it's not really a problem. In addition to wonderful
co-workers, I have a best friend who shares every part of my
life. We share our church experience and our work experiences.
She knows virtually everyone in my life and our friendship is
one of those great gifts from the Lord.
She's first on my prayer list each day and I know she prays
for me. But most of the time, our conversations start with,
"You're not going to believe what happened" and end
in laughter.
I can’t thank the Lord enough for a friend who shares
her time so generously and laughs at my stories even when they’re
not all that funny.
Because she is married with children, we rarely talk in the
evenings. So, not surprisingly, it is in the evenings that I
find myself most tempted to overeat.
I'm not exactly sure what to do with those evening temptations.
More prayer might certainly help, but as my pastor is fond of
saying, "Sometimes you just need someone with skin on."
So this week I’m heading back to the YMCA after work --
where the sights and sounds of families enjoying swimming, ballroom
dancing, rock-climbing and the other activities do wonders to
help fill the evening silence.
This week I’m also hanging on to a precious promise found
in Philippians 4:19. “And my God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
I believe our emotional needs are just as important to God as
our physical ones.
I wish you all well in your weight loss efforts this week. Be
sure to sign on to our message
board to let us know how you are doing.
Previous blogs: How
I got Roped into This, Dodging
the Donuts, Why
Losing Weight Takes Faith, When
the Scales Won't Budge, Ask
the Experts, Sweet
Scale Success, Are
You Having Fun Yet?, All
or Nothing, Weapons
For Your Weight Loss War, Winning
the Weight Loss Battle,
Eating Over Anger, Your
Weight Loss Season, Weight
Loss By the Numbers