2007
Me: What do you want for Christmas?
Caleb: I want you to be skinny enough to ride a roller coaster with me.
2008
Me: What do you want for Christmas?
Caleb: I just want you to be skinny so we can do things together.
2010
I’m learning that the little things in life are so important. The only thing I’ve known all my life is being overweight. It’s who I was – it defined me. Or so I thought. Bring God into the picture and you learn differently.
He is changing me. He HAS changed me; from the inside out.
Food fixed my pain. It soothed me. It hid me from the world. For every pound I gained I was one step closer to keeping people from getting close. I didn’t want anyone breaking through my walls. But the truth is deep down I desperately wanted those walls to be broken down. I got my wish.
When a little boy with the most precious eyes and big heart doesn’t ask you for money, the newest video game, or the most popular toy, but he looks you in the eyes and all he wants is you, how can your heart not melt? For years I’ve been so absorbed in my own pain and sadness that I could only exist. I couldn’t give him what he really wanted. I couldn’t give him me.
But that’s all gone, because I’m here now. I’m really here. God is good.
Caleb got his wish this past weekend. I sat on a roller coaster next to him, while he grinned from ear to ear and told me how proud of me he was. Those words coming from a little boy does something to your heart. He held my hand and said, “You’re doing it. You’re really doing it! I love you!”
It’s amazing what God can do when you get out of his way and let him do his thing. I’m living a life I never knew existed. I’m really living it!
As I stood in line to ride Wildfire I realized that my life has been much like this rollercoaster. I’ve been up and down, through the loop, backwards, upside down, and way over the top. But today I feel different. I’m enjoying this ride and know it will only get better.
One pair of running shoes: $60
Ticket to Silver Dollar City: $56
The smile on a young boy’s face when his wish comes true: Priceless