inside out

{photo credit to none other than the tuck meister}

there have been lots of calls, texts, emails, and comments about matthew lately.

yes yes. matthew has lost 40 plus pounds. he looks wonderful. 

but even more than looking wonderful, the Lord has been faithful to do a work in his heart regarding his health. that's where it starts. and we get the grace of having an outer visual of the inner working. i realized today that's exactly what his weight loss has been. grace. 

i have had the pleasure of watching matthew on a journey of obedience in the realm of his health. i wish i could accurately dipict how encouraging it has been to walk right beside him these the past 4 months. 

he has depended on the Lord. he has failed. he has not given up but depended even more on the Lord. he has been weak. he has been disciplined. he has simply been obedient.

this isn't a matter of going on a diet to lose weight. this is a matter of taking care of the physical body that the Lord has given him. in trusting that God is bigger and better than running to food to satisfy. weight loss has been an immediate outward result but this is going to be an act of obedience for the rest of our lives. in the foods we choose to consume. in making time to exercise. in having the most energy that we can for our boys. in discipline to bring the Lord more glory with our bodies.

it has been an inside out working. and it's not over.