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You’re Fat

Emily was sitting in a chair watching me when she very matter-of-factly said, “You’re fat.”  Now that does not win any brownie points even if you are a cute little granddaughter!  Well, yes, I know I need to lose some weight; I’m heavier than I want or should be.  But that does not mean I am fat!  It just means I have a few extra pounds.

I thought, I bet she heard someone say that!!!  So I said, “Did your mommy tell you that?”   She answered, “No.”  Boy, her mommy got lucky on that one!  Then I said, “Did your daddy tell you that?”  Again she answered, “No.”  Now that didn’t help matters one bit.  It meant she had an opinion that she formed all on her own.  In her opinion, I am fat! 

Sometimes we don’t like to hear the truth.  We are masters at thinking our sins are only faults, our failures are just mistakes, our addictions are habits and our lusts are desires.

 There are some Godly principles to help us: 

1. Acknowledge the truth:  “Your word is very pure….and Your law is truth.”  Psalms 119: 140a, 142b
2. Speak the truth:  “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle:  Who may dwell in Your holy hill?  He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart…”: Psalms 15: 1-2
3. Accept the truth:  “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”  John 8:32 

We are to speak the truth in love to one another (Ephesians 4: 15).  Not with loose tongues that spit fire and destroy but for reproof and encouragement that builds up and edifies the other person.

Yes, Emily is right.  I do need to loose weight.  So now my goal for 2004 is to shed those extra pounds and develop healthier eating habits.  Know what else?  After supper the other evening Emily said, “Grandma, I think we need to do our exercises.”   Emily and I had a fun time stretching and bending, twisting and turning.  Nine pounds down, eleven more to go!

By Pat Hertzler

January 26, 2003