Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Freedom

I started thinking what that word really means to me. Freedom from what? What am I actually free from? To answer that question I think I have to start with the opposite of freedom. That would be imprisonment or bondage. Oh yes, now it's becoming clearer. Freedom to me means freedom from bondage. Freedom from the heavy bondage of weight. Freedom from the awful bondage of shame. Freedom from the endless bondage of worrying about what others think of me. And all of this leads me to rejoice in the freedoms I have experienced. After loosing over 240 pounds, I have the freedom to move about this world in a body that allows me to. Freedom to walk marathons, to hike mountains and to whitewater raft! After working through the pain of my childhood abuse, I have the freedom to make healthy choices for myself without the bondage of unhealthy filters driving my behavior. Freedom to get clean and sober, to stand up for myself and to not eat food in an unhealthy way. After learning how to feel all of my emotions without numbing them with food or substances, I now have the freedom to cry when something hurts and laugh when something is funny. After learning how to take care of the child within, I have the freedom to behave as an adult and to meet my needs in a healthy way. Freedom to make choices that are mine to make! How did I go from such bondage to true freedom you ask? That freedom has been found in a relationship with Jesus. Before I knew Jesus personally, I thought I had all the freedoms in the world. I could eat whatever I wanted and as much of it as I wanted. I could drink as much alcohol as I wanted and I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to. I have never been in more serious bondage than those years. All the food led to morbid obesity. All the alcohol led to a drinking problem and my "free" behavior led to dangerous situations. It was only when I came into a real-life relationship with Jesus was that bondage broken. I was led out of it one step at a time. Freedom, sweet freedom! Happy 4th of July!

8 comments:

on the road again said...

Thank you for your words of wisdom, what a treat to be able to read such inspiration and it's not even Tuesday! This was worth the wait - you did good girlfriend. I look forward to checking this out often so make sure you have lots of thoughts and maybe a tidbit for me to ponder.

said...

It is in pondering the new thoughts and challenging the old thoughts that we begin to move forward. Just don't forget the plum line, which is faith. It is most important to have a backdrop of Truth, in which to challenge your unhealthy, untrue thoughts, or racket as I call it! Have a great week!

Yarbster said...

Julie, I just love you! Thanks so much for that instantaneous return call, and for explaining all this to me (it's like a foreign language to me). I love this communication. Hope you have a wonderful vacation. Love, Yarbster
P.S. I love what you said about the plum line being faith and the backdrop being truth. That's so true (how's that for a backdrop?)

Yarbster said...

I'm trying again. Yarbster

Yarbster said...

I just tried to send three other comments which didn't go through. But I'm still working on this. On the road again, I wrote that I enjoyed being with you for water aerobics on Tuesday, and hope to see you next week like we talked about, even though HOPE isn't meeting. Please let me know, also about accountability. I like that idea. Yarby

kindra said...

Thank you Julie and my buddies for posting. I need the daily reminder that there is another way to live and it is POSSIBLE--for even me. I want the freedom to be who God meant for me to be--more than I want the dress size! I want to be free to not obsess over how miserable I feel or look and the freedom to have something else on my mind other than what I will eat next. For me, right now, God is offering me hope in the way you are living Julie, the bondage you've overcome AND the understanding and safety of my fellow friends who are striving for His TRUTH also...Blessings

kindra said...

Yarbster--keep going! You inspire me!! I am seeing the results of choosing to self-care every time I see you--wow! I realized after yesterday's meeting that I really have to say no to me--always taking care of everyone, but me. I thought that was my job and now I've decided to "quit my job"--without even giving 2 weeks notice and get a new job--figuring out who I am, what I want, what I need. I applaud you for taking steps forward. Don't give up--you are worth it!!! The only thing keeping me going right now is you guys living it out! Thanks!!

Daisy said...

Sticking my toe in the big world of "blogs", in order to be part of this whole & healthy exchange. ..and I'll be going in "one toe" at the time. In the meantime, thank you Julie, and those who share.