Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Well, I’ve done it again. I’ve set my moral-emotional barometer all “a-twitter.” I just made the mistake of reading all the “think like I do or else you’re wrong, stupid, evil, etc.” messages that I could stand on Facebook before I gave up and started writing this. Why do we have to spread hate and ill-will when we are put on this earth to love one another? I even fell into posting a response to one that reminded those that were commenting that it is up to God to judge rather than ourselves. After I posted, I realized I’d fallen into the “got to have the last word trap” that made me just another judging, condemning, ill-will spreading person who thinks my thoughts and opinions are superior.
Maybe it is time for me to take a serious look at why I spend so much time perusing Facebook/social media. On it I find spiritually uplifting messages, beautiful photos, poems full of beauty and wisdom, prayers, and friendly messages of support. I post an invitation to read my daily blogs on Facebook, and I maintain my church’s Facebook site with a daily prayers and bible verses. There is, obviously, positive material of value on Facebook. It is what lies between the positive highlights that hurts my soul—–yet I read most of it. Why? I realize I have both good and evil in my soul. Reading the hurtful, negative, judgmental things feeds the evil that lurks in my soul, and I still choose to read them. Am I looking for a false self “jolt” of erroneously feeling superior? Do I like getting upset and feeling indignant?
And, then, there are the posted recipes for all the yummy foods—–foods that would eventually kill me were I to start eating them again. Do they trigger compulsive eating relapses? Not yet. Does my mouth water? Sometimes. Luckily, the craving is short lived because I re-frame my thoughts around “following through” what would happen if I gave into temptation. Then there are the jokes about drinking. I should be able to realize it is normal for normal people to joke about drinking desires——after all, I am certainly used to recovering alcoholics joking about drinking consequences. These pro-drinking Facebook posts are teaching me to accept I am not normal, but other people are and I need to accept it. All of the luscious recipes should be doing a similar thing rather than making my mouth water. I hate to admit it, but I am still copying, pasting, and saving some of those tempting recipes. It as if part of me still buys into the fantasy that I “will be normal” someday and be able to eat like “regular people”—–whatever that is.
I have recently been privileged to learn something important about the behavior and emotions I sometimes experience when those I am with are offered a special food treat as a token of warmth and hospitality—-a token I have to refuse for health-related reasons. If I catch myself feeling sorry for myself or feeling left out because I am a diabetic and can’t partake I am sometimes able to realize what I am really missing is the emotional intent of the gift I have to decline. A good friend recently offered me a friendly hug at just such a time. It was exactly what I needed. Thanks to that insight, I am learning to thank people for their thoughtfulness and to ask them for a hug instead if it feels appropriate to do so.
Loosely summarized, today’s topic is handling “Christmas Cookies” that are irritating or bothersome for some reason or another during this busy season. May all your “Christmas Cookies” be filled with love and peace rather than symbolic of minor little irritating things. May God bless and keep you.
Living One Day at a Time 
Ally has been gluten, sugar and casein free for about six months now. As a family we have adjusted and have done a lot of experimenting. But the holidays are difficult. Everyone thinks that it’s kind to offer candy and cookies and the like … especially to kids. And it is.
It is what society teaches these days.Food (and for the most part I mean “treats”) has become the acceptable way of showing love and rewarding kids for a job well done and showing appreciation and the list goes on and on.
Ally and I spend a lot of time talking about the difference between intention and reality in her life. We are blessed that we have teachers at school who understand and try to figure out work arounds for her. And she is becoming quite the chef here in the house. (and she wants to be a chef when she grows up – talk about something being passed down from a father that isn’t able to be here to guide her) But still … it’s hard.
Every once in a while she gets trips up and falls off her wagon … but now she is beginning to see the affects of her indulgences. Hard lessons for a child.
I am impressed by how well Ally has been handling this! And your comment about Alan brought tears to my eyes. For a moment he was here with me sharing a Christmas tear. I know he is proud of Ally too! Thank you!
All the goodies available at work and everyone oohs and aahs over them and describes them then proceeds to eat them and than vocalize about them. Am I jealous? Maybe. But I can sit back and make snide remarks: ” If you don’t touch them, you won’t eat them” or “It’s your choice; you don’t have to take one” And I can say this because I haven’t had one. But maybe I have already had one and I am afraid I will actually take one and eat it and then where would that lead me? It only takes one cookie to lead me down the rosy path to where I have been before, to over indulging on sweets and salty things and being uncomfortable or too full to enjoy a healthy meal at mealtime. I want to remember the real meaning of Christmas–that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Well put! Thank you for your comments. Thanks for the reminder that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and not sugary goodies.