Monday October 10 2016  DO NOT COMPROMISE

“DO NOT GIVE UP WHAT YOU WANT MOST FOR WHAT YOU WANT IN THE MOMENT.  DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR LONG-TERM GOALS.”

The above statement is a quote from a sermon message I listened to this morning while working out at the gym.  I backed up the audio and listened again to make certain I heard it correctly.  It was an epiphany moment, though not a new idea to me.  It was just that I had never heard the idea so succinctly worded.  I needed to hear it, TODAY. 

This past weekend was a busy, eat oriented weekend.  I was careful, but not careful enough.  Dave went to a men’s breakfast Saturday morning and they always have the kinds of foods he enjoys.  So that was his first meal.  Dave joined me on location at 9:30 a.m. to photograph a 35^th wedding anniversary.  Dave and I were invited to the sit down luncheon served to the wedding party from 35 years ago, family, and closest friends.  A WONDERFUL array of Italian food was served.  There was also an amazing array of desserts.  After the luncheon the open house guests began arriving for the afternoon.  

The caterers had the afternoon food prepared and presented in a beautiful arrangement within two hours of the luncheon.  AND OH MY GOODNESS…ANOTHER SPREAD OF DESSERTS.  Up until the last five minutes before we had to leave I had not taken even one bite of one dessert.  Since I was leaving I thought I should at least try one bite of what appeared to be cheese cake.  It was cheese cake; cold and firm (just like I like it) and the most delicious tasting cheese cake I have ever tasted (sorry sister)!   Well, I went back to the dessert table and cut off the entire piece of cheese cake.  Over the course of the next 45 minutes as Dave and I drove to our next event I ate the entire piece.  Probably about 2,000 calories!  But, it was so good.  And as I walked out with my cheese cake partially eaten I also decided to sample one other tidbit, a Norwegian cookie!

We arrived 45 minutes later just in time for a sit down dinner served in the formal dining room at our Son’s home.  We were there to celebrate our younger grandson’s birthday.  And yes, you guessed it, the party included all the trimmings, including popcorn AND cake served to all the party guests who arrived at 6:00 p.m.  My only salvation was that the cake was chocolate with chocolate frosting.  I was so glad!  It looked so delicious but I cannot eat chocolate due to a health issue so it was easy to pass it up.  Whew!  That could have been a 4,000 calorie day (and I’m only talking about the dessert calories)! 

And then today the preacher man I listened to on my iPhone from http://www.southlandchristian.org had to say the above words.  The statement hit a bull’s eye.  I have been struggling the last few weeks with over eating.  I don’t feel good when I take one bite over what I should but yet the food is always so delicious I think I can get away with it.  Well, I can’t.  I am still wearing the same clothes but I can feel a bit of tightness in some areas.  So, my goal has been to just refrain from the excess bites.  To attain and maintain my long term goal of keeping off the 80 pounds I dropped three and half years ago, I must not sabotage myself by allowing what I want in the moment to compromise what I want the most.  My goal is to maintain a healthy weight, stay in the same clothing size (especially since I only have one size in my closet now) and not eat sugar as it lowers my immune system considerably and makes me swell uncomfortably.  It also causes me to look and feel awful.

So, I will take to heart the words I heard spoken today.  I will not allow what I want in the moment to compromise what I want most.  Is it possible that this statement has also hit a tender spot in your life?  We each have our own dreams, goals, and visions.  Think about your life.  Are you missing out on what you want most because of what you want in the moment?  Give it some thought.  Tomorrow is a new day.  And after all, it only takes one day at a time to achieve what you want most if you will just bypass what you want in the fleeting, present moment.

DO NOT GIVE UP

Kathleen Martens

October 10, 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

An instant in time

Insignificant and fast.

In those moments of indecision

Allow your dream to last.

Let not busyness

Take away your focus,

Nor other hindrances

Become like locust.

What you desire most,

Put on top!

Succumb not to temptation

Which may cause you to stop.

The long term result

Of being true to self

Will become your glory

And your help.

Make a decision

And follow the course,

Saying no to the temporary

Will be your force.

Do not give up

What you want most.

A WISE CHOICE EACH MOMENT

Becomes your helpful host.

Thank You God for the words I hear.

Thank You Lord for helping me to understand truth.

Thank You for the gentle reminders you give me daily through the voice of others.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!