With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming, I wanted to take some time to talk about the festivities and the struggles that can tempt food addicts and to discuss what I have seen that works for me.
Well, friends, we all know that family can trigger addicts' emotional sobriety. Personally, I come from a family that loves to eat..and the holidays are based around the wonderful foods that are expected to be served, along with the piles of desserts.
We would bake and plan weeks in advance in order to satisfy the individual preferences and then more!
When I think about my growing-up years, I picture the table and all the food. I hardly remember the people and "fun" times outside of eating. How sad is that?
In recovery, I had to smash the picture of the family eating...and put up a new picture in my mind--people sitting and chatting, laughing and enjoying the time together...in the living room (or around the table, but looking at the faces of the people, not focused on the food).
On my food, I do what I do... I bring my scale and measure my food. It's not a big deal. I call my sister ahead of time to see if she will have a plain low-carb veg, cooked, and I make the salad, so I know that there will be enough. I weigh my portion of turkey and bring my oil and Braggs apple cider vinegar.
I actually enjoy coming home later and eating my abstinent dinner... with an attitude of gratitude...remembering all the holidays where I was sick and suffering.
Today I can rejoice and be glad! Thank You, Lord, for the program. Thank You, God, for leading me to the solution that continues to set me free one day at a time!
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4 comments:
Hi Pam,
I appreciate this time focusing on being prepared for the holidays.
I love my abstinent food!! The funny thing is everyone else loves it also!! Whenever I go to a family event I bring my food, and everyone hovers around looking at it and commenting on how delicious it looks!! Ha ha!! I have taken to bringing enough for everyone now.
I'll be having Thanksgiving at my house this year and will be serving all of my abstinent dishes along with the traditional foods that folks are expecting, but I bet my dishes will be the empty ones at the end of the meal!!
:o) Christine
Christine,
I also love my abstinent food..and I love what I do today. I have learned to pay attention to the important things in life. That's a blessing and I have joy today, where I used to live in gloom and doom. I'd try to get through a holiday, but I held a reservation that I couldn't do it...so I'd fail every time.
BUT, when I turned to God, and let go of the reservation and started EXPECTING HIS HELP, He was right there with me, holding my hand.
The program works for me because I work it. To God be the glory! He is worthy to be praised. He is doing for me what I could not do for myself.
Thank you for your ever present encouragement. I appreciate your comments (and others, too).
Love,
Pam<><
In this season to be thankful, I just wanted to say that I am thankful for your ministry. Both Doug and I are grateful for the help you have given us!!
:o) Christine
Thank you, Christine. Nice timing, too, because recently I've been struggling with people rejecting my way of doing the program... "too rigid"...."to controlling"... and the rest.
I stand firm. What I do works for me. I only know what I think I know, and it is not the only way, but FOR ME, it is what I do so that I can be free. That's my goal--to be happy, joyous and free, and that's what I have today.
To hold my peace,it comes down to remembering and believing that what people think of me is none of my business. I am following God's directions FOR ME. It's all about Him!!! To God be the glory for all that I am and all that I hope to be.
Thanks, Christine, for encouraging me...and praying for the ministry. I am praying for you and your family, too.
We are traveling the road less traveled.
Love,
Pam<><
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