Be Nice To People On The Way Up, You Will Meet Them On The Way Down

Let’s get this out of the way: losing weight doesn’t make you more loved. It doesn’t make you more valuable. It doesn’t mean God is going to bless you more, or people are suddenly allowed to treat you with more respect. If people think that way (and some do), then that’s on them, not you.

I’ve spent too many years believing that if I could just lose the weight, I’d finally feel confident. I’d finally have peace. I’d finally stop hearing the whisper that says, “You’re behind.” Or “You’re not enough.”

But the truth is — I was already worthy. I was already valuable because I was made in the image of God. People around me may not have seen it that way, but who cares?! Once you know who you are and what your purpose is, those beauty standards fade away. As well as the jerks who mistreat you for your size.

One of my favourite quotes is "Be nice to people on the way up, because you will meet them on the way down." Do you know that there are people who were mean to me about my appearance and are now in way worse shape? It is satisfying, yet I remain humble. I pray for them and hope the best for them.

The world defines worth by appearance. God defines it by His image in you. That has never changed. That won’t change at your goal weight, or ten pounds above it, or fifty below it.

But here’s the twist I didn’t expect: As I’ve started walking and nourishing my body with better things… I do feel different. Not worth more, but aligned more. My body is increasingly able to keep up with the calling He’s placed on my life.

I don’t feel more loved — I feel more available for love. I don’t feel more holy, but I feel more clear-headed, more present, and more willing to follow through on what God asks of me.

Sometimes obedience means laying down comfort. And for me, that included emotional eating, ignoring what my body was trying to say, and the comfort of saying “someday” when God was asking for “now.”

Weight loss is part of the goal, but it's not the entire goal. Alignment with His purpose is. And if treating your body like the temple it is helps you feel less foggy, more energetic, and more spiritually aware — that’s worth something.

Not because it earns you love. But because it helps you receive the love that was already there. Unconditional love like that is going to take you places you could never go by comparing yourself to others. Especially those who criticize you.

Remember that quote from earlier; It applies to us as well. Even if we stay our weight, if we are criticizing and gossiping about people now, we may find ourselves in a position one day where we need them. Life is funny like that.

Stay kind,

Cher

A snap of Rory from our daily walks.