Suzy Q
August 3rd, 2007, 08:13 PM
1 Peter 4:4
“Of course, your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them anymore in the wicked things they do, and they will laugh at you in contempt and scorn.”
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It is amazing how people’s attitudes change when we lose weight! After I lost over 70 pounds, I found a marked change in behavior in some of my friends. Carol had been a friend for many years and I deeply respected her beauty, talents and wisdom. I was in shock when she became angry and jealous of the “new me.” The more I tried to reach out and encourage her the more she reacted with rejection. If only Carol had realized how hard I had worked to lose the weight, and that she too could experience the same freedom I was now walking in. But she chose to fall into the trap of anger, bitterness and self-apathy.
Patty was a much older lady, very kind and soft spoken. Though her outward behavior never changed toward me, she admitted that she too was envious and wished she could be thin.
A more positive reaction came from Trudy, a pastor’s wife who wanted to lose weight. Rather than wallowing in self-pity and jealousy, Trudy was happy to have met me and to share in what God was doing in my life. Trudy made the same commitment to the Lord that I made and it wasn’t long before she started losing weight and reached her goal.
Though some of my relationships became strained and others ceased to exist, I continued on with my mission to help others obtain freedom from food addiction. We can’t be responsible for the weaknesses and insecurities of others. All we can do is pray for them and reach out a helping hand if they will accept it. But be prepared for a major attitude change among some friends and even relatives once you lose weight. But don’t allow it to discourage you. Continue to be a beacon directing others along the way. Some will follow and some won’t. All God asks is that you remain faithful to the calling He has placed within your heart.
By Cheryll Mayberry-Smith
“Of course, your former friends will be very surprised when you don’t eagerly join them anymore in the wicked things they do, and they will laugh at you in contempt and scorn.”
**********************************
It is amazing how people’s attitudes change when we lose weight! After I lost over 70 pounds, I found a marked change in behavior in some of my friends. Carol had been a friend for many years and I deeply respected her beauty, talents and wisdom. I was in shock when she became angry and jealous of the “new me.” The more I tried to reach out and encourage her the more she reacted with rejection. If only Carol had realized how hard I had worked to lose the weight, and that she too could experience the same freedom I was now walking in. But she chose to fall into the trap of anger, bitterness and self-apathy.
Patty was a much older lady, very kind and soft spoken. Though her outward behavior never changed toward me, she admitted that she too was envious and wished she could be thin.
A more positive reaction came from Trudy, a pastor’s wife who wanted to lose weight. Rather than wallowing in self-pity and jealousy, Trudy was happy to have met me and to share in what God was doing in my life. Trudy made the same commitment to the Lord that I made and it wasn’t long before she started losing weight and reached her goal.
Though some of my relationships became strained and others ceased to exist, I continued on with my mission to help others obtain freedom from food addiction. We can’t be responsible for the weaknesses and insecurities of others. All we can do is pray for them and reach out a helping hand if they will accept it. But be prepared for a major attitude change among some friends and even relatives once you lose weight. But don’t allow it to discourage you. Continue to be a beacon directing others along the way. Some will follow and some won’t. All God asks is that you remain faithful to the calling He has placed within your heart.
By Cheryll Mayberry-Smith