Food: Day 8

The social world revolves around food! I am just as guilty as the next guy of doing this… and I wasn’t really aware this was the case until I was in a position not to partake of the festivities. I held a baby shower for my sister-in-law this weekend… there was one short game and the entire rest of the time was people eating food and visiting and eating more food (most of which I could not have… yes I know I hosted the event and had control over this… but none the less, most was forbidden). We went to a nephew’s birthday party and the party was based around building your own ice cream sundaes. Super cute idea… but based around food. 

Side note: I am SUPER proud of my kids! The ice cream sundae party was a family event, and ice cream is one of the things that my children chose to give up this month. I knew this would be tough for them, so we talked about it before we went and prayed in the car as a family before we went in. My super thoughtful sister-in-law, Heather, knew my kids were fasting ice cream so prepared some cupcakes for them so they would not feel so left out. But the kids did not complain once. I know the cupcake is not a healthier option, but it was a different option than what everyone else was doing, so that proved my point to my children. Landen even said after the party, “I wasn’t even tempted by the ice cream.” So in my opinion, it was a fasting success with the kids today.

Back to my point… looking back through pictures of birthday parties (You should know this family likes to go all out for birthdays… costumes, décor, games, themed food… the whole nine yards… I love to do it) so much of every party is based around the food. As someone who is looking at food in a new light, it is sometimes difficult to enjoy these social events if you are not partaking in the food.  I need to change this… Not only about the events that I throw, but on my perspective going into an event. I need to go in with the mindset of fellowship rather than self indulgence. It is a much harder transition than you would think.

I also want to make this point… this is a fast for me. For me, it is not a lifestyle change or something that I plan to embrace fully for the rest of my life. Do I think this fast is giving me a new perspective on food and how my body works (or doesn’t work) because of it… absolutely. Do I think I will go the rest of my life without consuming bread or cheese or sugar… probably not. The point of a fast is to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced in order to let the Holy Spirit move me (however the Holy Spirit wants to do that). I’m not sure exactly what God will do with my heart over the next 3 weeks, but I think Jen Hatmaker said it best when she said this, “Jesus, May there be less of me and my junk and more of You and Your kingdom. I will reduce, so He can increase.” That is how I feel exactly!

I know most things I have read say about week 2 you no longer crave the sugar or want to eat the other things you have given up… you just feel so good. Well… I am NOT there. I still dream of my mother-in-law’s cinnamon rolls, melted cheese on anything/everything, and some dang chips to go with all this salsa I’m eating.  It may come, it may not. But right now I think God has is there for the purpose of depriving myself of this self indulgence to lean on Him for the comfort, not the food.

We sang in church this morning…

“I need Thee, oh I need Thee.

Every hour I need Thee.

Oh bless me now my Savior,

I come to Thee.”

So very, very perfect. One of my all time favorite hymns… I have this song on auto repeat in my mind (and sometimes out loud) this month.  This might even inspire a craft project and a giveaway by the end of the week. :)

What an amazing journey, thanks for joining me on it!