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Seventy
times Seven
By Carolyn Allen
A picture says a thousand words! As
promised, here’s a photo and quick update on Liz Langston
from Kanosh, Utah. She’s now lost 60 thrilling pounds after
discovering my book
online late last December. With it to guide her thoughts and the
quiet whisperings of the Spirit for courage and fortitude, she and
her husband Joe made January 1, 2007 their starting date.
They are following the Jorge Cruise
“Three Hour Diet,” which keeps their bodies fueled with
frequent small, well-balanced meals featuring lots of veggies. Joe
has reached his goal to lose 55 pounds and is greatly enjoying the
many delights of achieving a healthy weight while he cheers Liz
on.
Liz’s confidence is soaring and
her success is bubbling into many areas including her thriving online
eBay store and website (www.little-luxuries.com)
where she creates custom period jewelry for personal use, historic
and theatrical costumes. With the increase in energy she is starring
with a lead role in a summer community production of the Cole Porter
musical “Anything Goes.” With it all, she is still finding
time to exercise (she loves to walk), prepare healthy meals and
continue their search with LDS social services for a baby to adopt.
(If you know of anything, please email me at Carolyn@myweightlossfriend.com
and I’ll put you in touch with her.)
As we’ve become acquainted, it
occurred to both of us that the length of time required for her
to reach her weight loss goal approximates the length of a full-time
LDS mission: 18- months to two years. We theorized that our devoted
missionaries sacrifice many things during this once-in-a-lifetime
period to follow Heavenly Father’s personal plan for them.
Liz’s health choices center around this vivid visualization
to successfully complete her personal “mission to health.”
Liz’s example and visible success
inspire not only those immediately around her, but online where
she is a superstar over at www.MyWeightLossTeam.com.
(To join us online, click HERE.)
Her insightful, delightful postings make healthy living a joyful
blessing rather than a burden. One of these postings is the source
of today’s message:
Today’s Scripture:
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him? ‘Til seven times seven?"
…Then Jesus saith unto him, "I say not unto thee until
seven times seven, but until seventy times seven." (Matthew
18:20-21)
One late evening while cleaning alone,
Liz discovered a long-forgotten jar of marshmallow cream on a remote
kitchen shelf. A spoon was nearby … and so was a container
of low-fat cream cheese meant for something else. The combination
was wicked. So was the return to the past of standing up and eating
alone from a container late at night. She writes the next day:
Why do I do these silly things? Especially
when things are going so well! I'm making great progress with
my health. I feel wonderful. I've got LOTS of yummy recipes and
treats that I enjoy and that are actually good for me.
Rather than labeling myself a failure,
however, I’ve decided it’s better to say — "Gee,
that was dumb!" and have a good chuckle at myself. I guess
the real key though is that I started anew day today and I'm STILL
on track! I didn't let a tiny setback derail my schedule, eating
plan, or outlook on the progress of my goals. So that really is
a step in the right direction for me!
Most importantly, this morning I
took the remaining marshmallow cream and got rid of it down the
disposal without licking my fingers once!
Her post reminded me of our family
trip two years ago to Palmyra, New York, to visit the Sacred Grove
and the sites. Our drive from Virginia to upstate New York was breathtaking
as we took the long route through small towns and quiet countrysides.
One quaint little church we passed on our return had a quote for
the week posted on their outside marquee just for us: "The
best way to get even? Forget!"
Feeling some personal frustration and regret over the far-too-generous
portions of ice cream and other indulgences I'd eaten over our holiday
time, I read the quote and thought about failure, mistakes, forgiveness,
myself, us and the never ending choices and challenges of getting/staying
healthy and happy. Talk about a long and winding road!
The next morning as I read my scriptures,
I read the verse above. I've always felt like the Lord was making
an important point, but that the number 490 wasn't meant to be taken
literally. After all, who could possibly offend us 490 times? Then
I flipped to Matthew 22:37-39, where we are admonished to love our
neighbors as ourselves. To love includes to forgive. If
we are to love others as we do ourselves, then we are also to
forgive others as we do ourselves. Let
me repeat: “as we do ourselves!”
All of a sudden the number 490 wasn’t
symbolic at all. In fact, was it big enough to accommodate my countless
poor health choices through the years made after reverent vows to
do better?
With a start, I realized that our bodies
easily and willingly forgive and forget every
time we apply Liz’s lesson to laugh and quickly move on with
the swift and immediate return to healthy choices the very next
hour and the very next day. The times it will not
forgive and forget are when we continue to indulge and wallow in
the quicksand of continued poor choices for extended hours and days.
Well, you know the beautiful comfort
and assurance as well as I do. The Savior is using 70 x 7 as a reminder
that He extends His love and forgiveness endlessly (way past 490
times!) and he expects us as His followers to do the same —
for ourselves as well as others.
Now our hearts can calm down. Peace,
resolution and a new hour beckon. With our Savior, the Master of
health and happiness, to tell us that the best way to even out an
error is to FORGIVE, FORGET and MOVE ON, how can we not respond
with courage and a deep breath? Just like Liz with the marshmallow
cream.
OK, a new journal — water bottles
filled, double check portions, more veggies, sneakers tied and out
the door to exercise — all with a great big hug of faith
and forgiveness!
Oh, He is GOOD. And so are we!
Today’s Empowerment:
“Healthy choices and forgiveness create my road to success.
A healthy, energetic life is Heavenly Father’s plan and mission
for me!”
Today’s Journal Prompts
and Discussion Starters:
- Define your get-back-on-track attack
plan. What exercise and food choices do you immediately make after
detours?
- Using the statement “if you
fail to plan, you plan to fail,” what upcoming events can
you prepare for now to completely sidestep detours?
Today’s Recipe:
Here’s a cool and creamy summertime
treat. The soy protein powder beefs up the nutritional level and
makes it more filling. You can find it in the health foods section
of your grocery store.
1 large ripe banana
1/2 cup low-fat milk (or soy milk)
1 can (4 oz.) crushed pineapple in its own juice, undrained and
well chilled
1/2 cup sorbet or frozen yogurt, vanilla or tropical flavor
1 Tbsp. soy protein powder (optional)
Peel banana and break into chunks.
Whiz in a blender and serve with a mint leaf to garnish.
(21 g Dietary Fiber; 207 Calories;
2 g fat; 38 g Carb; 17 g Sugar)
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