Yesterday and today, I’m featuring a couple of guest blogs by Maggie Davis and Carol Showalter, authors of YOUR WHOLE LIFE: The 3D Plan for Eating Right, Living Well, and Loving God.  I like this book — see my review of it from late last year here.

by Carol Showalter

What is it about September that makes me feel like it’s a perfect time to take inventory of where I am, what I am looking forward to, and if there are any course corrections I need to make? Is it because school always begins in September and from the time we are little we see September as a new beginning? Or is it because the church new year starts and it’s time to get ready for new classes? Or maybe it is just the mere fact that I have had another birthday in August! Whatever the reason there is something in me that wants to say “Happy New Year.”

There is a sense of joy and excitement and expectancy at this time of year for me. And the absolute helplessness of not having any idea whatsoever what’s in front of me gives a sense of awe and a sense of the fact that the choices I make are very, very important.

I’ve been “dieting” most of my adult life. I wish I could say what Norris says: “I’ve lost a lot of weight and kept it off for 15 years.” My journey isn’t that story.

However, my journey does have some incredible good news in it and I’m expecting more good news this year. I’m a person that has to weigh herself every Monday morning. I’m also someone that chooses to look up and believe in all the great things God has done in my life. The number on the scale guides me throughout the week to make good choices; it points me in the right direction. Don’t forget to eat breakfast, it says, and make yourself a decent lunch for your day at work so you don’t nibble your way through the day, and think about whole grains and fruit and vegetables this week and no desserts, at least not now. Isn’t it amazing that that digital square box in the bathroom can say so much just by the number that pops up on Monday morning! I have years and years of numbers written down every Monday morning and I can journal my struggle with weight down to the pound.

But I’ve had another struggle most of my life and that’s the struggle of poor self-image. For many years the number on the scale seemed to have a way of dictating how I accepted myself and whether I felt like a success or a failure. The good news is that now I know a lot more about myself and I know that I’m much much more than a number on the scale. I am a woman who loves to walk by the water and listen to the birds sing. I am a woman who loves to be surrounded by friends and who has no problem meeting strangers and making new friends. I love to go to museums, and experience new pieces of art that I have never seen. Church is one of the most wonderful experiences I have every week. The thought of coming to know more about the God I love, and listening to music that lifts my spirit, goes right to the heart of who I am.       

So my heart welcomes September as if it was January 1st. The new year has begun for me and I can’t wait to find out more about who I am and experience a lot more of the love of God.  And yes, I will start this new year looking at the number on the scale and making the necessary choices I must make to stay healthy and free. Soon I’ll have to give up swimming outside and use the treadmill inside. But I have no idea what beautiful things my life will enjoy this year and how my spirit will be fed and nourished by all that’s around me. I hope that you’ll join me on this wonderful journey called life and expect good things in your life, too.  Happy new year!

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Carol Showalter was the founder of the first Christian diet program (3D  Diet Discipline and Discipleship) in the early 70’s.   She is the co author, most recently of  Your Whole Life  The 3D plan for Eating Right, Living Well, Loving God  just released in paper back September 1 by Paraclete Press.

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Do YOU have experiences with scales?  With God?  Please post a comment below!