The Scale is Not My Friend

"Don't step on it.....it makes you cry"

As many of you know, I have become a dieting fiend.  I have been eating next to nothing and losing weight that took me years to put on.  I have lost over 40 lbs.  It has been hard, discouraging work.  I would venture to say that it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. 
Food has always been my way of treating myself.  When we could not afford many things, I could always cook cinnamon rolls from scratch, make up a few cookies, and even experiment with packaged cake mixes.  I love to cook.  I love the smell that wafts through my kitchen when something is baking.  I love the planning, the preparation and the actual event of eating. 
So, dieting has made me change a lot of areas in my life.  It has made me learn patience, tenacity, and will-power.  I still have a ways to go.  I still need to lose some more of the weight before I am through.  I have learned that I will probably have to "diet" all the rest of my life.  It doesn't mean I can never have treats.  After all, moderation should be good in all things!  However, I can't treat myself every day.  I can't eat sugar like it is one of the four food groups.  (And probably the main one at that). 
So, I now have rituals that I go through to give me the motivation I need to continue on this path.  The first one is the weigh in.  As soon as I get up in the morning, I weigh myself on the bathroom scale.  I am always nervous for this part.  Did I eat too much yesterday?  Did I cheat?  Do my pajamas weigh 10 lbs or only 2?  You know, all those fun things that run through your mind.  Yesterday, I stepped on my scale and it read simply "LO".  What????  Seriously??? I have never seen that one before.  Does it miss the days of sagging under my weight?  Why in the world would it say "LO"?  I know that I have not lost THAT much weight.  So, I came to find out that the battery is not working correctly and now I can't weigh myself until I get a new one.  It doesn't show anything except "LO".  What is a woman to do???  I seriously thought about making some Oreo truffels to celebrate.  But, instead, I am still being nearly reasonable.  I only snuck off to Subway for a 6 inch sub!  (Totally not on my diet, but can I just say it was heavenly???)

I think that the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) can be a lot like this little scale.  That so small, quiet inner voice that directs us in the way we should go.  Sometimes it reveals things about us that we do not want to know.  We do not want to face.  We do not want to admit. 
Sometimes, it forces us to see ourselves as we really are and to make changes into what we would really like to be.  Sometimes, that small voice just motivates us to be a little better than we originally thought we could.  It helps us to stretch a littler further.  It helps us to fix what is wrong around us and make it right. 
So today, I am thankful for that quiet inner voice that is willing to lead me, motivate me, and encourage me.  I am thankful that I have been taught to listen and obey.  I am actually thankful that it rarely is silenced.  I am thankful that I have been willing to learn from this peaceful, inner voice.   

At the moment, my motivation to continue this diet is gone.  But I know that I will be heading out to Walmart tonight and looking for a little stinkin battery to put back in the scale.  Because, I have learned a lot from that simple, small appliance that reigns over the bathroom of my house. 
And let me just say for the record, It is so NOT my friend!