Running 30 miles per week. Doing core work on the big purple ball that is too hard to hide from the kids. Making smarter choices in eating. Expecting six-pack abs to appear soon. Hearkening back to high school days & being as ripped - if you can call it that for a skinny boy - as I'd ever been. Thinking something like, "I won't be another bulgy belly daddy at the pool this summer," in my average-American-unrealistically-imaged vanity.
Then came six days of a stubborn kidney stone & a few other set backs that have had me running much less in the past two months. Still eating the same however. The pounds became sticky. The bulgy belly emerged again.
(Reader time out: Before you bemoan the skinny boy with the little bulgy belly issue, please hang on. We are moving toward a point. Don't get lost in body-type comparisons along the way. Okay? If you are past that, then you can resume reading.)
So, we're at the pool yesterday. Seth in swim lessons. JM & I sitting on the side of the kiddy pool. ME splashing around in front of us. I bend over toward her. She recoils scaredy faced. Transfixed by bulgy belly.
"Daddy, you've got a chubby tummy," floats out with a giggle. Popping my pride with a BANG.
I made some fatherly, "It's not nice to say things like that about other people's bodies even if it is true, Mary Elizabeth," comment. You have to add the "even if it is true" with ME due to the five-year old honesty she'd just exhibited.
Yet, while instructing her I was praying too. "So much for my pride. Thank you, Jesus, for having my innocent little sweetheart bring me back to your reality."
How about you, friend?
Not your body-type.
Your pride.
Is it skinny?
Or chubby?
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10
3 comments:
Like the blog, Pastor. Haven't been here in a while - the new format is eye-catching. Pride is a huge issue with me. God acts as God the FATHER when dealing with me - kersmack.
Rats! I needed this today. I've had shin splints and a sore back for a little while and just this morning was bemoaning my "chubby-feeling" self and beating myself up for getting out of control and losing my motivation to run.
Thanks for reminding me that ultimately my pride is what is having an issue. God knows what we need to hear. I pray that I would continue to listen. Thanks PA!
kp
My pride gets big quite often, but is usually smashed back down to normal when I drive or cook.
Hope you haven't had any more stones, dude!
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