I’m doing something new!
I’ve hit four days of walking 2+ miles a day with my friend! We’ve seem to become more and more tired.
It has been a good feeling and a good new habit…our muscles are aching and tightening, we’re adding a little more each day… we went with a simple 2 miles then a little more than 2 then 3 then 3.7 and we’re going to keep pacing but we’re walking seriously and seriously walking.
It occurred to me that the task of “shedding off” is not a passive process. No, it’s one where you have to know what you are shedding off… the why, the how, and to do so… it’s intention and then you have to do the work!
So we’re seriously walking and walking seriously, but we’re also talking seriously and seriously talking… I’ve noticed we’re not only shedding off this so-called baby weight but we’re shedding off unforgiveness and bitterness. My friend felt shame bringing up how she’s been wrong by people in the past, we’re talking about over five years of hurt! I also brought up some hurts I’ve experienced. We aren’t gossips and we don’t want to hurt those we’ve walked with. I heard from her that she faced disrespect after disrespect. Disregard after disregard. IT was shocking! And we realized we’ve been hurt by people who themselves were hurt.
So, we decided it’s ok to shed this weight of our physical bodies and our hearts. I hurt for my friend and she for me because we’ve had people do and say things to us to guilt, cajole and so on all because it’s in the name of being “a good Christian” or “friendship” or “community.”
What I discovered is I have to shed this and make a plan…
- If I am to lose weight: I will have to do the work. Prepare meals, portion, and so on.
- If I am to rid of bad habits: I will have to remove those habits and replace with the good.
- If I am to exercise good community: I must know the markers of bad community or company.
- When I hang out with friends: I will call out bad and harmful behaviors and encourage good ones.
- To love others well, we have to model Jesus’ love and healthy boundaries.
So, we pressed on.
The back of our legs tightened.
We ached as we went uphill. But in order to get home we had to go through and push forth.
This is the process.
So tomorrow, we hit the pavement again, power walking to beat 3.5 miles and to shed the hurt we’ve felt from bad boundaries. Time to walk well and time to recoop, regain tracking and build “muscles” for good community and also tone our body, soul and spirit.
Are you walking in hurt and pain today?
Would you say that not only do your feet and body hurt but your heart, too? Me, too, friend. Me, too.
Comment below how I can be praying for you.
Abundant Mommyhood 