Do you eat to live or live to eat...

Do you eat to live or live to eat? I have experienced both. I have gone through phases when I ate because I knew my body required it, not out of hunger nor out of pleasure. For years I religiously followed The Specific Carbohydrate Diet because it kept my Ulcerative Colitis under control. I literally ate to live. One bite of forbidden food would steal days from my life. Trust me on this. Being trapped in a bathroom for hours on end feels like death, not life. The diet worked. It kept me healthy. It was worth all the self denial and vigilance. Then it quit helping.

I started immune suppressants and found that food was safe to eat again, except that wheat triggered symptoms. Gluten free isn't easy, but it is a walk in the park next to SCDieting. Especially with the guidance of Gluten Free on a Shoestring. Needless to say, I began living to eat. I did not eat out of hunger. I ate because I could finally say yes to food. I enjoyed food again. I went overboard and I gained weight.

It took a while to learn balance. Don't judge me harshly. I'd like to see you avoid all grains, starches, and sugars (except honey) for even one week without feeling sorry for yourself and binging a bit when it was over. There are some foods, some recipes, that are such a pleasure to eat, I have to make myself push the dish away to keep from stuffing myself. Then there are foods that I choose to eat because I know they are good for me. I do not like tomatoes, but I do enjoy them in salsa and cucumber salad.

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work."

John 4:34

With  John 4:34 in mind, let me ask that question again. Do you eat to live or live to eat? In other words, do you serve out of obligation or do you seek out opportunities to engage in service to feel His pleasure? Have you learned balance or do you overcommit because you can't say no. Do you know yourself well enough to recognize a good fit when you see it?  The Servants by Design : Your Unique Design workshop opened my eyes to these questions and gave me the tools to embrace service in His pleasure.

When you have experienced His pleasure in service, I believe you will want others to enjoy it too.  How have you experienced His pleasure? Share with us in the comments section.

If you haven't experienced His pleasure, what are you waiting for?

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Father,

May we always feel Your pleasure as we live out the truth of Your Word. Help me to honor the unique way that You have designed each person that I come into contact with today. Oh that I would extend grace and have it extended to me in return. Do not let me forget that Your grace is my most precious possession...not only do You gladly pour it on me, You require me to extend it to others.  Open my eyes to see people through the lens of Your love.

-me