Take for granted...

Have you ever heard the phrase "I don't take it for granted," or "they took it for granted." How many times have we REALLY pondered that phrase?

What does it mean to TAKE FOR GRANTED?

I went to one of my BFF websites: dictionary.com. I visit it daily only being behind Biblegateway.com on my frequently visited sites list. For the sake of time I'm only going to point out a couple definitions:

–noun
something granted, as a privilege or right

"take for granted"
a. to accept without question or objection; assume: Your loyalty to the cause is taken for granted.

b. to use, accept, or treat in a careless or indifferent manner: A marriage can be headed for trouble if either spouse begins to take the other for granted.

When you say, "I don't take it for granted," you are saying I do not believe this blessing in my life to be common or a given. It's not something I naturally assume as mine, it wasn't an inheritance I deserved, it's not something OWED to me. You see, when we take things for granted, we assume that we deserve them or somehow it is owed to us for one reason or another. A lot of time you don't fully appreciate something in your life if you take it for granted.

You may be saying now, "Um Mesha, what's your point?" Well over the past couple days I've been counting the blessings in my life and I just rejoice over my health, friends, family and experiences I have been offered undeservedly. I do not EVER want to take life for granted - including the ability to get healthy, eat right and work out. Not everyone who struggles with their weight can physically take a walk or visit the gym. Not everyone can afford healthier and fresh foods. Not one bit of the love, care, encouragement and advice that I've received from each one of you reading this RIGHT NOW was owed to me....yet you offered it! I do NOT take any of those things for granted...I'm 100% thankful!

TODAY - I am not "taking for granted" the part you've all played in me realizing I CAN succeed. In a way I attribute part of my success to each of you - I now realize that it ultimately comes down to me, but your love and support is helping me get there at a good, steady pace. I wish I could give to everyone struggling with their own weight what I've received through my blog, facebook, my customers, the sisterhood, former Biggest Loser contestants, etc!

I dream BIG - one day I want to "Pay it forward," and not selfishly keep what I've received from each of you to myself. I still have a LOOOOONG way to go...but I'm choosing to see the future over the here and now. I don't want to EVER forget the trials of this weight loss journey I'm on - the UPS and the DOWNS! I'm glad I started this blog - as an online journal to record the road, something I can look back and reflect on.

Not for one minute do I believe "God made me overweight," - if anyone ever tries to feed you that line - RUN! They are no "life coach" to take advice from. I fully recognize that I had control over the state I'm in - with that being said, I think my eyes were opened and my mindset changed at this point in time for a reason.

If it weren't for "SUCH A TIME AS THIS"...I don't know that I ever would have met the amazing individuals I have since February who I've been encouraged by and had the opportunity to encourage. Had it been 5 years ago or even 5 years from now - I don't know if I could have directly related my weight loss to the truth of the gospel as openly as I do now. In everything I'm doing - over all else I want to point to Christ!

Everyday I'm being humbled by the open door this decision to change my life has made. The people I encounter who I get to encourage, who I get to laugh with and cry with! who I get to speak with about the strength that I've found. The times I get to lend an ear or share my experience in hopes of helping them through theirs.

I haven't taken one step of this weight loss LIFESTYLE change for granted, moreso than weight - MY LIFE IS BEING CHANGED...

ABOUT THE VERSE: I chose a verse from the book of Esther today in parallel to my "such a time as this" statement. Esther was a Jew who was chosen to marry the King. All the while, the King loved Esther deeply (not knowing she was a Jew). The King made a decree to destroy the Jews since they did not submit to the "world's system" of following the King - primarily because it was contrary to their faith in God. At that time Esther was in a position of royality where she had an MONUMENTAL choice to make - deny her people and watch them die, or approach the King on their behalf (possibly costing her own life). Her father wrote a message to her revealing that maybe her marriage to the king had greater purpose than what was originally seen - MAYBE it was for "such a time as this," so that she'd be in line to do God's will and spare her people.

We've GOT to look at our situations and see where we may fall in line with the greater picture called LIFE. We've got to live them with a purpose - knowing that each of us has more to offer the world than just our daily, self-absorbed, "this is for me and myself" only mentality. I'm realizing that my weight loss efforts aren't only for the reward and benefit of myself - it can absolutely be used to change and even SAVE some lives!

Verse of the Day

Esther 4:14 (Amplified Bible)
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?