Do you remember in the movie Napoleon Dynamite when Rex the Dojo gives his speech about "Rex Kuando"? He points out his flag pants and asks if the students think anyone would want to mess with him wearing "these bad boys?"
There are times each month I have certain cravings which turn me into a scheming self deceiver. I need chocolate. Today I asked each of my children privately if they had any chocolate in any form they could share...each said no, and I was secretly relieved and saved from myself.
I try to prepare for these sudden attacks of cravings and need. Rex the dojo in Napoleon dynamite steels himself against certain attacks by wearing his bad boy pants. I steel myself with the bad boy armor of God. Lehi tells me about it while telling his boys..."Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity and arise from the dust." (2 Nephi 2:23)
Addiction to food was a chain that bound me. Every time I looked in the mirror at 205 I could have easily echoed Nephi's words and said "oh wretched (woman) that I am!!!" Every time I would see the bottom of a carton of ice cream I finished off with a spoon in front of the TV, I could have easily said "my heart sorroweth because of my flesh"..."I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me." (2 Nephi 4:18)
Nephi then states "...why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations...?(v27)
When I finished lamenting I had to get real(aka Dr. Phil). The temptations that easily beset me come from the cocoa bean or from Frito Lay. When I go grocery shopping I cannot buy treats I cannot resist, no matter who I say they are for. I try to shop after a big breakfast or other meal when my resolve is strong. It is dangerous to have to go to the store after 8:00 or when I am hungry. If I really need something and I know the still small voice will not be heard over the roar of the bakery I take a kid and tell them to not let me buy a package of cupcakes. They are usually delighted to play the role of policeman for mommy.
"Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul" "Do not anger again because of (a bag of Cheetos). Do not slacken my strength because of (Chubby Hubby)." "Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say; O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God and the rock of my salvation."(2 Nephi 4:28-30)
How can you not succeed with the armor of God on? Unlike Rex's bad boy uniform it will never be dated and is a must have item for Spring of 2008. "Oh Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever." (2 Nephi 4:34)
7 comments:
I love you! I have never heard my internal dialog put so eloquently before. Thank you Nephi! I started WW again today, with my husband in tow. What a wonderful way to start! I did it after my second baby and it worked like a charm. Now after my third, I am a good 25 lbs more than I want, and (I am ashamed to say) have started to slowly gain. Why is it so hard to let go of pride and admit that we can't do it ourself and that the weight won't magically come off. Dr. Phil is right. Willpower is a joke. The flesh is weak. I am going to print out this post and put in on my fridge. I'd frame it if I had an extra frame!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. So beautifully written. What more can I say except I needed that!
I love how you tie in the scriptures with eating. My flesh is so weak, yet I did not think to pray about my eating habits until I "met" you! Thank you for the reminder.
Thank you as usual for being your own eloquent self.
I was feeling so good about myself after going to the grocery store yesterday. I admit to smug thoughts about how healthy my cartful looked when compared with the overflowing of frozen processed goods behind me.
I resisted every item on the cookie and cracker aisle but then came home and made a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies. And I can't stop eating them.
I'm in serious need of that armor!
I love this post!
First, I can totally relate and I love the scriptures you share. I have never made the connection you made of the Armor of God to helping with weight loss and food addiciton being a chain like Nephi talks about, but it so very much is!!
Second, I can't stop laughing at the image of Rex Kuando and his bad boy pants being compared to the armor of God. That is too funny--I love it!
when i first started reading this post, i was sure that you were going to say that if we eat ourselves into oblivion, the only pants that will fit will be "these bad boys!" the armor of god connection was more uplifting to be sure!
thanks for giving me more effective and funny mental images to use when i am tempted by the fiery darts of the adversary.
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