Yesterday was a wonder.  Our yard was transformed - from a great green jungle into a clean marvel of landscaping organization.  Guys from the Church (and girls!) showed up to weedwhack, mow, hedge-trim, rake, and all around make themselves sore by means of physical labor.  I found myself tugging and tugging on a patch of weeds that had taken over the front planters.  The strange thing?  No matter how hard I tugged, the weeds would NOT loosen!  I'm paying for it today, since my arms appropriately feel as if I lost the tug-of-war.  First I started with a handful of weeds.  I wrapped them around my hand several times and puuuuuulled.  Then I lowered my expectations - perhaps I could pull a half-handful at a time.  I used the same method - to no avail!  Then, I changed my strategy yet again.  I attempted to pull merely one or two weeds at a time.  The result?  SUCCESS!  As I pulled and pulled, the truth hit me squarely between the eyes: When it comes to weight loss, I do exactly the same thing.  I try to tug out all of the weeds of bad habits at once.  I grab a handful of weeds.  Candy, carbs, no exercise, large portion sizes, depression, grief.  I pull and pulllll - and then give up.  Let the weeds grow; this is just too hard.  But letting the weeds grow doesn't make the Lord smile.  Imitating Christ makes God smile.  Loving Him above all else makes God smile.  This time, success will be gained by attacking one small weed at a time!  First comes asking myself: Does this choice (whatever it may be) glorify God?  Or myself?  Or am I filling a God-sized hole with a good-sized portion of whatever food I'm craving?

Weeds - prepare to be pulled!