McBloggy's Blog
New Years Redo
Posted by: Katherine McDuffee
Friday, January 23, 2009 10:32 PM
As the mother of two kids under two I find myself unable to avoid getting sucked into any weight loss article, news piece, or late night infomercial. Most are completely ridiculous (the Five Bite Diet wherein the participate eats five bites of whatever they want and nothing more for the entire day) and obviously unhealthy, unmanageable, and completely nuts. One story did resonate with me this year. One woman lost a hundred pounds or more by eating less and eating healthier. What was unique about that? She gave herself unlimited second chances. Instead of giving up when she caved in and binged on fast food she picked herself up and started over. She said every day and every meal is another chance to get it right.
What a gift she gave herself. Obviously, getting healthy is a wonderful goal but I think she stumbled upon something amazing. It is easy to give up. Whether it is a New Year’s resolution, a personal goal, a relationship, or that subtle lessening of effort it happens to the best of us. To be honest sometimes I feel like I could get a gold medal in giving up. My own faults seem staggering at times. I know I am not a serial killer or anything so drastic, but I know myself and I know my faults. I hear when my passions get away with me and I speak too harshly. I have seen myself pull back when I know someone has a need. I know when I contemplate cheating my toddler at a game of Hi-Ho Cherry-O just to hurry bedtime along (I didn’t do it but I really wanted to). It might not be visible to everyone else, but I know and that becomes a stumbling block at times.
Watching this woman I was so impressed. For as many W.W.J.D. bracelets as I’ve seen through the years this is one of the few times I could point to something and shout YES that is what Jesus would do (yes I know this is a pretty frivolous example but it’s topical okay). Sitting around and holding onto failures and feelings of inadequacy is ridiculous. God doesn’t require perfection and we don’t just get a second chance. We get every single moment of our lives to get it right, to do better, and to work harder.
This year I pray I might learn to truly persevere, to give myself as many second chances as it takes to get it right, and try with all my might to extend that kind of grace to others.
Just to note: I know nothing of this woman’s status of belief or non-belief and respectfully use her as an example without claiming her to be of my faith or any other.
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