I am sooooooooo. . .
“I am so angry. I am
so overwhelmed. I am so tired. I am so hurt.
I am so depressed.”
Do these statements of emotions sound familiar to you? This morning as I write, I wonder—how many
times do we overeat because of our emotions?
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week, Gloria and I
and Marilyn Schuler from Grinnell attended the Cedar Falls Christian Writers
Conference. Having attended this
conference last year, I looked forward to gaining information to help me improve
my writing skills and to be inspired to write, write, write.
By Thursday evening, my mind was swirling with information—What
did it mean to me to be a successful writer?
What does my heart want me to write? Media in which to publish. . . Overstimulation caused limited hours of poor
sleep.
On Friday, further information swirled through my head—The
Five Love Languages for Writers, Creating my Digital Footprint by Using Social
Media, Travel Writing. . .By dinnertime my brain was scrambled and my head
ached.
Sitting next to Gloria at dinner, eating my second serving of spinach manicotti, I
asked, “Why do I get so hungry at these events?” Quickly, I realized the answer to my question,
“I’m not hungry. I’m eating to stuff
down my fatigue, my being overwhelmed, my ignorance.”
My subconscious brain had been asking, ‘How can I comfort
myself, make myself feel better?
FOOD! Of Course’!
As I’ve reflected on emotional eating, I’ve had various thoughts. The need to begin my day with prayer, asking
the Holy Spirit to give me strength and guide me in what I do, say, think,
feel—and eat. And to keep my mind
focused on Jesus 24/7 as Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things.” (NIV)
If I do this, I pray I can take those emotions to Jesus and
talk them over with the Holy One.
Sharon
Witty
June
21, 2018
P.S. The conference
was wonderful with inspiring speakers and fellow participants.
Oh Sharon, this really touches me. I so understand. Thanks for sharing. And I need to go to God instead of food when I feel overwhelmed...or tired... Bless you.
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