Measuring life in bags of potatoes

I have officially lost 20 pounds.  That's 2-10 pound bags of potatoes. Looking at it that way, that's a lot of weight. The strange thing is that I don't feel like it's gone. I guess I don't even miss it.  The thought that I even had that much to lose is almost ludicrous to me. But I did. And I have at least 2 more bags of potatoes to go. Maybe 3.

I had a reward for my first 2 bags--I bought a tall non-fat chai latte from Starbucks. It was satisfying; but it seemed to bring my cravings back. I fought it off with fat. Bacon, eggs, butter, cream--and I didn't cave to the crave. I was going to get a manicure, but I think I'll wait until I either hit the next size down or until I've lost the next bag, whichever event comes first. The Trim Healthy Mama way of life can be difficult to measure in pounds.

I seem to have a slight stevia intolerance which showed up when fall allergy season hit. This is putting a damper on my sweetener. I'll work it through and figure out if it's only seasonal or if I can get away with a few days with it and a few days without it.

Leading the victims in grace

Blaming the victim for the crime is a very real issue. I have been guilty of casting doubt upon victims myself and that has been a shameful thing on my part.  That indicates that the victimizer had no control over his/her actions.  This attitude pretty much absolves the victimizer and pummels the victim into terrified silence.

I don't do that anymore. The victim is just that: a victim who deserves compassion and warmth. The victimizer is a sinner who deserves to be brought to justice.  (This part is not within my power because I am not law. The former part is absolutely within my power because I myself am a recipient of grace.)

I have seen for myself how often the victimizer receives the grace and continues to perform his nefarious deeds. I have seen victims fall into obscure oblivion or become angry and destructive themselves. 

I ran across an excellent treatise on the matter of not further driving these wounded into darker holes and of not allowing the wounders to continue digging the holes in the first place. 

You can download the PDF here. It's about 42 pages but it's easy to read. I know my blog doesn't get huge traffic and traffic has never really been my goal. But, if you've just wandered by, go ahead and read it. 

Once we become aware of the victimizer's methods, we can better look out for our weak and our wounded. 

The Worst Sort of People

 There are people who are merely annoying. They are mostly harmless. They just don't know when to stop. Then, there are people who are dangerous. 

The dangerous ones are the manipulators who almost effortlessly go through so many contortions in a situation that you are amazed that they got to where they are. But they have to do this. They have to twist and turn in order to make the situation be all about YOU. They don't mind ignoring plain truths. This situation must not be about them. 

Sometimes we get trapped by these manipulators. I mean, they can seem to be the nicest of people.  But sometimes we catch on; or we catch them at it one too many times and we put an end to it. They can't stand that. They have to maintain control and when you have them figured out, they've lost control. So, you walk away and they don't. They continue to beat it about. They malign you; they mock you. 

Yet, you are are relieved. The strangest sort of relief comes when you call the wickedness by name. The wickedness loses power. 

Others may seem to go along with the manipulator; but don't worry. Pray for the followers, actually. You see, the followers will be eaten up as well. Once the manipulator has gone through everyone else, his little circle of followers is all he has left.  

As you suffer this maligning, just remember that Creator of all sees this too. He knows where the wicked dwells and He knows who is righteous.