I’ve become one of those women I never understood. The ones who post pictures of healthy food, love working out, and own more fitness clothing than regular clothing. As recently as the beginning of this year, I would look at other women who enjoyed that particular lifestyle and wonder what I was missing.
I’ve never felt a rush of post-workout endorphins in my life.
The times I’ve attempted to train for and run a 5k, I’ve been miserable.
Any attempt to actually stick to a healthy eating or workout plan simply made me feel like a failure.
It was all guilt and no grace.
Then, in March, something clicked. I realized I’d become a sideline mommy to my toddler, always available in case she needed something, but never involved in the running around or playing. I was constantly tired and she’d already started to realize that I wasn’t going to be the “fun” one.
I didn’t care about being fun – my heart ached to be involved. So I made an investment into my health and committed. And the work God has been doing on my heart has been as dramatic as the work He’s allowed to happen in my body. Long before the scale showed any change or anyone noticed the work I’d been doing, there was a stirring in my spirit that felt like new life.
My body had become more than a vessel to move me from point A to point B, but was transforming into a gift that I felt called to steward well. Although the messages in the workouts weren’t meant to cause me to reflect on God, He can use anything – and He caught my attention with one very specific phrase.
“Tighten your core to protect your back.”
Come on over to (in)courage today to read a few truths God revealed to me with that phrase!