Happy New Year!
By Lyndia Grant
If you missed my last two columns, here's what we've been sharing. Reflecting on my own life, I explained how I personally ignored habits that I picked up over the years, habits that caused my health to fail. As you set your New Year's resolution to lose weight or to make some other critical change, consider this poem written by Portia Nelson.
Chapter One: I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. ... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two: I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in this same place. But, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three: I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.
Chapter Four: I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Chapter Five: I walk down another street.
What a vivid reminder. I consumed boxes of vanilla wafers, and cheese nips every month. And, I had honestly convinced myself that my binges were OK by saying, "This is not a daily habit, just an occasional treat!"
On weekends, my hand would keep dipping into the box, as I ate one after the other. I couldn't stop. Put the box in the kitchen cabinet, the taste haunted me and within minutes, I'd go back and continue my binge.
Pain in my lower back got increasingly worse as my weight continued to increase. My stomach was now getting larger and larger. When my granddaughter Lola sat on my lap, she would beat on my stomach. That was my first clue that I was out-of-control; me, who enjoyed dressing like a model; me, who enjoyed fashion and flair, out-of-control, yes, me.
An old back injury made it difficult to walk a block without stopping. Mentally and physically challenged? Me, accustomed to walking 5-miles regularly, had totally quit exercising.
Then God whispered into my ear to remind me "Our body is the temple of God." And I heard clearly, "Your work for me here is not done yet."
Today, I'm in and out of the doctor's office, taking high blood pressure medication, on a strict diet of low carbohydrates, no sweets, working to reverse high blood glucose levels, and walking again.
You probably ask, "What else was on my mind?" Good question ... life! Too much month and not enough money; problems with my car; going to work at 20 schools all across Montgomery County, running into all types of problems, and the beat goes on.
To get through this all, these scriptures help me: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me; and "Let this mind be in me which is also in Christ Jesus; and "Let not your heart be troubled; and finally "And I know all things work together for good to them who love God and who are called according to His purpose."
This habit of self indulgence will continue to occur if we don't pray without ceasing, and keep Christ first in our lives. We must pray for wisdom, understanding, temperance and self-control. The scripture reminds us that He will do these things for us, but some of the responsibility lies on our shoulders – will power.
Happy New Year, make this a healthier, wealthier and happier new year.
Lyndia Grant is a columnist with the Washington Informer. She is also a radio talk show host on WYCB-AM, Fridays at 6 p.m. Call 202-518-3192, www.lyndiagrant.comp; send emails to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .