January 4, 2013 - A Circle of Three

What an interesting Super Bowl Game. The lights going out certainly created a shift in momentum and perhaps if there had been a few more minutes remaining the outcome might have been different. I worked long hours over the weekend on my manuscript and am completing April hopefully tonight. I am editing blogs as I am hooking them to the recipes, so it's taking a minute to read so much and delete things about HCG and reword to appeal to a bigger audience. I am thanking God daily as another chunk is completed and grabbing the next chuck gets easier. I refuse to allow the mountain to overwhelm me, but I am rejoicing with each successful completion. As I was up late last night, I felt the Lord began to speak to me about long-term friends and their value to each of us. Do you have a friend from childhood that is still a real friend to you? I only have one from high school that I am still in contact with, but I have several friends that have journeyed with me over the past 30 years and are dear to my heart. Friendships can come and go, but long-term friends are usually crafted from a mold that doesn't shatter in controversy or by the pressure of distance. Do you have that friend(s) whom you may not see daily, but you KNOW they would be at your side in a moment's notice if needed? I do. Isn't that a treasure? Now what you need is to designate those "upper level" friends who are going to be your REAL accountability partners in this next leg of your journey. So, when we think of long-term friendships on our health journey, they may look differently. I began to list in my mind last night the following "friendships" that are very critical in our quest for health: 1. people who are willing to be honest and encourage us when we want to quit or fudge just a wee bit 2. people who are willing to hydrate with us at certain intervals simply because they know our water consumption is critical 3. people who are not afraid to risk our anger and speak up as we reach for the brownie 4. people who will comfort us when discouraged but firmly point us to the truth 5. people who will be honest daily with their fitness plan as it helps us value the struggle of others 6. people who will continue to offer their hand when we have failed to reach for it recently due to our own failure 7. people who can be trusted with our feelings and know how to pray and help us fight These are just some of the endearing qualities I thought of last night. My brother Chip was all this and MORE to me when we first started, I honestly don't know if I had the fortitude to break the walls of my cell, escape the prison guards, start over with barely nothing, and overcome the many obstacles in my face. My knowing Chip was there for me and I for him meant we were in the fox hole together and that comforted me. How about this - sometimes we spoke on the phone and prayed 5 and 6 times a day for weeks until we started standing on solid ground. Yes, we did! Why is this important? Because isolation is a HUGE tool used in the arsenal of discouragement. And once we FEEL isolated it's often not long until we feel no one cares and we can begin to return to our past simply because of the "comfort" it provides. How many of you know that sometimes people can be free of prison physically and still be in prison emotionally. That's why I really encourage everyone fighting for freedom from obesity to enlist those friends you know will grab your neck when need be either with a hug or a yank. Let's be honest - some friends only flatter. We don't need that - but submitting to the friend who won't pass you a brownie takes a great trust on our part. But it's critical. I promise. Who are your three and do they know you have given them permission to help you? Ask today.