I Am Not Fat

 I think it's extremely important to make a distinction between the following statements:

1. I am fat

and

2. I have fat

When you say "I am," you are tying what follows to your identity - who you are.  Some may disagree, but I don't believe "fat" is part of anyone's identity.  I have fat.  But it is not what I am.

Here are things I am:

1. I am a child of the Most High God.
2. I am a woman.
3. I am a sister.
4. I am a daughter.
5. I am a wife.
6. I am a mommy.
7. I am a volunteer.
8. I am a friend.
9. I am a teacher.
10. I am a hoot. :)

Here are things I have:

1. I have a short attention span.
2. I have big mouth.
3. I have too much concern for what people think about me.
4. I have issues with taking medications.
5. I have a hard time letting things go.
6. I have family issues.
7. I have back issues.
8. I have money issues.
9. I have some (minor) OCD tendencies that alienate me from normal people.
10. I have fat.

There is no question that the things I have impact the things I am.  My tendency to hold on to hurts affects who I am as a friend.  My OCD tendencies keep me from being the kind of volunteer I would like to be.  The fact that I carry around probably forty extra pounds impacts the way I view myself as a wife and mother.  It probably contributes to my back issues, too.

But the things I have are changeable.  It is within my power to make things different.  These things are not tied to my identity and they are not where my value is found.  I think this is an extremely important distinction, because if the things on the first list do not fulfill me - if I cannot be happy and content with these things, then losing my fat, getting better skin, making money - none of these things will make an ounce of difference.  I want to lose the fat because I want to take better care of myself, be fit, and look good.  But these things are not what make me content.

This is a heart issue.  My identity is in who I am, not what I have.