Old Westerns. Classic.
You know during the big chase scene when some manlier-than-any-man guy is being tossed off the wagon by evil-guy-who-doesn’t-respect-women dude and super-great-guy just won’t be deterred from his cause or his true love? You know how he grabs onto the hub of the wheel or some rope hanging and the horses are going like gangbusters and there’s dust and more dust and the sun is setting and you think he’s going to die being pummeled on the great plains?
That’s how I feel this weekend. Cooking a few dishes to take to the home of those who are graciously hosting us for Easter. I was standing and cooking all day. I can’t NOT sample the yeast rolls that I made with whole wheat. After all, if they are horrible, I can’t take them. (I am making an enriched flour batch to take along because the rest of the world hasn’t embraced whole wheat like me.)
After months of being without my favorite indulgent dessert (because the coffee shop closed), I finally found the mint chocolate brownie recipe that looked close. Can I truly be expected to make it, layer after layer through the day, cooling, mixing, layering, chilling, and not taste the thing? And it’s a Taste of Home recipe at that? (Btw, whole wheat flour on that, too.)
I didn’t make it to the gym. But I kneaded 3 batches of bread. I didn’t get on an elliptical. But I moved on my feet most of the day. I ensured my family was fed (new muffins recipes: best ever muffins and sour cream muffins with fat-free sour cream; both big hits!). I had healthy meals and allowed my kids to be in the kitchen (Music Man made a Cool Whip strawberry Jello pie…YUM!) I did no push ups or sit ups. But I did sit down and listen to a dear friend share her heart of some stuff going on in her life. When you choose to do what is important in the moment, there has got to be some sort of caloric compensation there, right?
Well, right or wrong, I’m not letting go of the wagon. I honestly don’t think I jumped off. The season just kind of pushed me off or the jostling around just inadvertently caused me to lose balance. I have hold of the wheel hub. There’s bouncing and dust and the jumping image of a sunset. I remember when I was pregnant with #2 and so so so so so sick. I was on the sofa listening to old spirtuals and feeling my joints creak (dehydration does that to a person) and dreading having to turn over to be more comfortable. I was so alone and in so much pain. I recall saying out loud, “I’m not going to die. I’m going to have a baby. The baby will be healthy. And Jesus is still Lord.”
I drifted off to sleep after that. I had another pregnancy that was worse than that physically, but I never got that spiritually low again.
Scripture tells me that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Whole wheat or enriched flour, I’m going to whole-heartedly celebrate the relationship I have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ tomorrow! And I’m going to celebrate that because of him, I can stay on this get-healthy wagon…and any other wagon that shares the word of God and brings glory to his name!
I choose to not let go of the wagon!!
(Please don’t let go of your wagon either. And if it’s hard…grab hold of Jesus…he’ll pull you up!)
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