Day 22 brought an early-morning meeting at Panera Bread.
I selected the power sandwich instead of the cinnemon crunch bagel and creamed cheese and black coffee. Nice recovery from the carb cravings that plagued me since my pasta the night before. All of that went down the toilet when my lunch consisted of a margarita and a two-day old cupcake. Not the lunch of champions, but comfort food. I caught up with some of my reading and filled in a few days of this blog. Mark and I finished the deck - and I'm so proud of him for his efforts and hard work. We worked as the kids played water ball and a new bouncing game. Dinner wasn't much better than my sugar filled lunch - a hot dog, relish, carrot sticks and grapes, with a large glass of water. I refused to munch late into the night and sleep found me quickly.
As I reflect on the story of Joseph, I am reminded on second chances. Joseph was the eldest son of Rachel and Jacob. He was the favorite son and treated well by his parents. He had eleven brothers, one of who was named Judah. Joseph could also interpret dreams. As a child, he had a dream that his brothers would bow down to him. This statement naturally raised resentment in his brothers. When they saw an opportunity, they threw Joseph into a cistern and ignored his cries for help while they plotted to kill him. Judah, the fourth eldest child born of Leah and Jacob, convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph, but instead convinced them to sell him as a slave. Fast forward several years to when Joseph had risen to a position of power in Egypt, and famine was all around. His brothers came to him to purchase food and bowed down to him because they did not recognize him. Joseph querried them about their father (who was also Joseph's father) and his younger brother, Benjamin. He also convinced them to bring Benjamin to Egypt. Now, Jacob (the father) did not want to send Benjamin to Egypt, because he was the only remaining son of his beloved Rachel. Judah, promised his father he would protect Benjamin and bring him home safely. Joseph secretly arranged to have a silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack of food, and then sent his men out to bring Benjamin back accusing him of stealing. Judah spoke up on Benjamin's behalf and begged that Joseph accept Judah instead as a slave so that Benjamin could return safely to their father, but his father loved him so much and he did not want to disappoint his father - knowing how much his father suffered because Joseph was taken away. Just as Judah have Joseph a second chance at life - even as a slave, Joseph gave Judah a second chance by allowing Benjamin to return. This willingness by Judah to lay down his own life to please his father and save his brother is what Jesus did for all of us. While I cannot confirm, I do not believe it is coincidence that Jesus's bloodline is traced back to Judah himself.
This year, I'm also given a second chance to be more healthy in terms of eating and exercising. I hope that I don't squander it like I did last year. I hope and pray that the knowledge that I learned last year, and my trust that through Jesus, all things are possible, will be sufficient to overcome the obstacles and allow me to finally get the weight off.
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." Psalm 13:5
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