I have a quick question for you.

Have you noticed that as we get older, it’s easier and easier to focus our attention inward?

I mean, my knees ache now more than they ever did. And if I don’t get my 7 hours+ of sleep, my thinking is a little fuzzier.

On the plus side, I care less about what other people think, so that’s a relief.

My kids require less time and attention. My work is flowing. I can focus more and more on what I want to do.

But overall, all of this thinking is about myself.

There’s a danger there.

This week in our Bible Study we were reading in Ephesians where the Apostle Paul encourages us to “bear one another’s burdens.”

There was a marked focus on loving each other in their community in real, tangible ways. Ways that helped to lighten the load.

And I was challenged to look for ways I could do more of that in my own life.

Rather than focusing on Me! Me! Me!… I could take a breather and turn that focus outward.

Who can I unexpectedly bless?

Who can I drop off flowers for?

Who can I pray for?

Who can I send an encouraging text or funny card to?

There are a lot of ways we can be a blessing to others if we just remember to get our eyes off our own selves and look for opportunities to serve.

This is the time in our lives we can be a blessing, maybe more easily than ever before.

So let’s hop to it! The world is waiting.

As always, I’m cheering you on,

Love,

Christy xoxo

The post Happiness Through Service appeared first on Christy Largent.

Family, friends, food and faith.

Today as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I hope you will be spending time with your favorite family and friends.  I hope your tummy will be full of the yummiest food of the season.

But most of all, I pray you will find faith in the perfect God-man, Jesus Christ.  And that in the midst of your gift giving, laughter and fun, that your heart will be drawn to the only one born to bring lasting and eternal peace.

Peace between our frail, flawed humanity and a perfect God. Peace made possible by the baby born in the stable. Peace paid for by His perfect life given as a sacrifice. For you. For me. Peace.

Merry Christmas!

The post Merry Christmas! appeared first on Christy Largent.

My first exposure to a world without freedom was in 1977 Eastern Europe. Bound by the chains of communism, the people had suffered for years at the hands of despots and tyrants.  A Pensione manager whispering from her heart into my mother’s ear,  “We love you Americans but we are so afraid to say so – we’ve had war for so many years…” is a sentence that has stuck in my mind for 28 years.  Border guards meticulously searching our train with mirrors probing underneath and German Shepherds examining within was an experience I’ve not forgotten.

Never should we take the precious freedoms we daily enjoy for granted.  Freedom was not cheap. Freedom was a dream purchased with the blood of our forbearers.  For over 200 years, our freedoms have been maintained with even more blood of our American heroes.

So today, as we celebrate with parades, BBQ and fireworks.  Let’s remember and be thankful.

God Bless America, and may we continue to be the shining example of freedom to bear testimony to the world.

The post 4th of July Thankfulness appeared first on Christy Largent.

The post Easter Blessings! appeared first on Christy Largent.

But he was gone.  Buried in a borrowed grave.  It had been a pretty dramatic and disgusting end to the whole thing too.  For Pete’s sake.  Well actually, Pete had his own embarrassing episode during the whole long, drawn out fiasco.

What a waste.  Three long years.  They had walked away from their careers, their families, everything in order to follow their Pied Piper.  He promised.  And now he was gone.

We know they had lost hope because when the miracle happened and He really was gone from the tomb and the women tried to tell the disciples all about it, this was their response, “They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  Luke 24:11  Does that sound like men who were waiting with bated breath for their dream to resurrect?

And maybe today, on the Saturday before Easter you have lost hope too.

Maybe your marriage has crashed and burned and all those dreams you had when you were dressed in white are cindered, black and smelly.

Maybe you got that pink slip yesterday.  Your high hopes of promotion and growth and success now seem about as likely as a trip to Pluto.

Maybe, God forbid, your child is gone. And that has torn everything thing you thought you knew to be true into disarray leaving you stripped, barren, broken.

Not a single shard of hope.  You get it.  You know how those disciples felt.  And yet.

And yet.

Their story wasn’t over.  Your story isn’t over.

And actually, all because Sunday already came, you don’t have to be hopeless either.  You can cling to that resurrected reality, even if by the slenderest of threads.

Oh dear friend, cling as hard as you can.  And then, it will be the resurrected Christ who will come and hold you up.  He is the one who will restore your heart.  I promise.  He promises.

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples you know.  They were actually all huddled fearfully together, locked in some hidden room when he came to them.  And the first words out of his mouth were these, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

Can you imagine?!?  Peace.  After all that.

Peace.

So today as we await our own celebration of resurrection on Easter Sunday, let’s join together and open our weary, discouraged and hopeless souls to his exquisite, soothing balm of peace.

Peace.

The post Hope Lost and Found appeared first on Christy Largent.

Yet the challenge to be thankful is an ongoing one.  In fact, the conflict of “not enough” comes screaming back full force just hours after the feast is over.  For the past few years, the reminder of how we don’t have enough is even creeping up on us earlier and earlier. (My newspaper and inbox were full of special sale ads starting about 10 days before Thanksgiving.)

You know what I’m talking about don’t you?  ‘Black Friday’ hits with the ferocity and intensity of Niagra Falls.  Black Friday SHOUTS.  I’m convinced its message is not really about the stuff though – I think it’s deeper than that.  It’s the lie of the enemy that we not only don’t have enough, indeed we aren’t enough.

And that’s the tender spot isn’t it?  I believe the lie that if I just get that set of matching luggage, then I will be stylish enough.  If I just load my kids down with that new doll/truck/game, then I will be a good enough mother.  If I get my husband the latest tool, then I’ll be a good enough wife.  Oh, and if I will just be wise enough to take advantage of the incredible pricing on those things I really don’t need and don’t have room for anyway, then I’ll be a savvy enough homemaker.  Oi vay!  It’s enough to make your head spin.

And that’s what the father of lies wants, right?   He wants me to spin my head from the truth that none of that stuff matters because I am accepted and loved just as I am.  The truth that not one thing I do or say or buy will change my value.  I already am enough.

Interestingly, it’s the same lie I tell myself when my relationships start breaking down.  The lie that my lack is why I can’t fully connect.  I imagine that if only I were more (fill in the blank) then we would become better friends, coworkers, (fill in the blank).

Truth, is that when we are wiling to recognize the lie for what it is (never fulfilling) and start being thankful for what we already have that our relationships can start being repaired.  Truth, is that it’s only through gratitude that I am able to fully experience contentment and peace.

Today I wish you peace through gratitude.  When your sibling hurts your feelings, be thankful feelings will mend.  When your parents give you unsolicited advice, be grateful you still have parents.  When your kids misbehave, disobey and embarrass you, be thankful they are independent thinkers.  When you eat too much and have to unbutton your jeans, be thankful for the bounty.

So tonight, before we set our alarm for 3am in order to head out for early shopping, let’s stop and take an inventory of all we already have. All we have in our relationships, our health, our work and indeed our lives.   My hope is that our grateful hearts will realize just how full they already are.

The post Grateful Hearts appeared first on Christy Largent.

But today, because my son was adopted into an American home, he is free to spend the day lying on his bed reading to his heart’s content.  He is free to enjoy angry birds and the power rangers in equal measure.  He’s free to dream and then live out those dreams unencumbered.

Today is a sad day for the thousands of children who have been pouring illegally into the United States over the past few weeks.  No matter how they got here, my guess is that they were longing for freedom and opportunity.  Today they are housed in large cages waiting for our government to figure out what to do with them.

My heart breaks for those children.  I wish I could do something, anything, to get them out of the kennel for people and into homes where honest, hard working, god-fearing people would love them.  Although I’ve contacted my congressmen and both senators, I’ve heard nothing in response.

So today we Americans celebrate our freedom with bike rides and pool parties and picnics and book reading.  We’ll wrap it all up with baseball and fireworks.  It’s so easy to take it for granted isn’t it.

But I don’t and I hope you won’t.  I hope you will take the time to be thankful for what you have and the people you have in your life.  If you are American, you have blessings and abundance that the majority of the world can only dream of.  Let’s show our patriotism by being thankful and grateful and generous.  God Bless America.

The post Happy July 4th America! appeared first on Christy Largent.

When I got home and after the car was unpacked, the clothes in the washer and most of the dirt wiped off, I picked up a book I’ve had sitting on my desk for 2 weeks or so.  In light of the way my non-stop self-talk had run riot after a weekend of being reminded I’m not where I want to be physically, (the end of the month challenge…remember?!?) the title caught my attention.  Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick is timely to say the least.

Right at the beginning he reminded me that this frustration I experience between what I want to do and what I currently experience is nothing new.  In fact, the apostle Paul beautifully shared with us how he was constantly “at war” with this battle in his mind.  “I do what I don’t want to do, and I don’t do what I want to do,” Paul said.   Sound familiar?

If you struggle with your self-talk, I think you would enjoy  Crash the Chatterbox too.  I’m about 1/2 way through it now, and so far, there have been 2 key ideas I want to share with you.

1.  Look to God rather than people for approval.  My personality tends to look to others for their approval.  I work harder for others than I do for myself.  I focus on being the best student, the best friend, the best worker, the best daughter.  And it seems like I’m always striving to be perfect so that I’ll hear “good job” from the person I’m working for approval from.

Instead, I”m going to take Steven’s reminder to heart and realize that God has already said “good job Christy.”  In fact, he has already said, “Good Job!” to you too.  I’m already fully approved of and so are you.

Following hard on the heels of this need for approval, is my desire to compare.          2.  Dump that darned comparison trap!  It was so tempting to trot out my old friend – especially this past weekend as the end of month brought many promotions in my former business.  Several friends whom I had watched start their business’ after me, and then promote past me had just achieved the top level of the company.  I am so happy for them.  Really.  I am.

And I’m kind of sad for me.  For the lost hopes and dreams.  For the title of “National Vice President” that I didn’t achieve.   And then, just in time, I was reminded by Steven that comparison is ridiculous. Let me quote from him (just in case any of you could benefit from this thought too.)

 “Before you were born – before any of your defects were apparent to you — they were absolutely apparent to God.  That didn’t stop Him from calling your name and setting you apart.  He placed you on the earth at a certain time for a pre-decided purpose.

 And even when you can’t seem to get your act together, your identity is secure and completely intact.  Because in Christ, who you are matters infinitely more than anything you do or cannot do.”

And that’s the truth.  That “pre-decided purpose” just makes my heart sing.  Because I know that had I achieved that rank I was working so hard for, I wouldn’t be right here with you right now. There would be no blog.  No podcast. No speaking career.  And for whatever reason, I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is where I’m supposed to be.

All 187 lbs., achey back, creaky knees and all.  And as I get my mind repositioned, whatever that process looks like, is when the weight will drop and the fitness improve.  In the meantime, ping-pong anyone?

Question:  How do you handle your self talk?  What’s your biggest challenge?  Can you see yourself using the two ideas I discussed?

The post What’s in Your Mind? appeared first on Christy Largent.

Crazy, isn’t it?  I know!  I laughed so much and actually thought, so darling, but seriously, so tacky!   I then shared it with some of my best girlfriends.  And then one girlfriend said something that rocked me.  She said, “What a cute invitation, I’ll bet it’s going to be a really fun wedding.”  And she’s exactly right.  It will be a super fun wedding.  The people are great fun and I love them.  They have an awesome sense of humor (see above example), and it will be a time of celebration and joy.  So what if the invitation is not my preference? (Tiffanys, engraved on cream paper if you really want to know).  But thanks to a shift in perspective, that invitation went from tacky to terrific.

What if, when I looked in the mirror, or tried on my clothes, or got ready to leave in the morning, I gave myself a perspective shift.  How about a perspective that says thank you God for my sturdy legs that will carry me far.  Thank you for a healthy heart that beats with love and excitement for others.  Thank you for soft arms that hold my husband and children tightly.  Thank you for diligent hands that wash dishes and correct math homework and type encouraging words.  Thank you for a full belly that is testimony of your gracious abundance.

When we are thankful, our hearts and minds are full.  There’s no room for “not enough” in a mind and heart full of gratitude.

 A perspective of discontent comes from focusing on what we don’t have.   What’s not enough.  Whether it’s our backyards, our bodies or our backgrounds.  Not enough outside seating to invite the neighbors for dinner.  Not skinny enough to look good in those fancy jeans. Not enough experience to…(fill in the blank.)  Not enough is a big, fat, ugly lie.  We are all enough.  We are all enough.  Just.  As. We.  Are.

And maybe Mother’s Day is a good time to let go of the lie that my own mother was not enough.  She was enough.  She did the best she could with what she had.  She always loved me unconditionally and still tells me I am more than enough.  My own ears hearing the not enough from her mouth in regards to herself and others, was my own insecurity rearing it’s ugly head.  (I love you Mother!)  She is enough.  She did enough.  More than enough.

And when I realize that, suddenly I’m freed to be enough in my own life.  I’m enough of a wife.  I’m enough of a mother.  I’m enough in all my 186 lb glory.  I’m enough because God made me enough.

I’m on this public quest to shed some weight.  I don’t know what the end goal is.  It’s been almost 15 years since I’ve been at what I deemed my “perfect” weight, so now at age 50 I don’t know what my happy place weight will be.  For today, if I can shed 20 lbs, lower my blood sugar and have more energy, I’ll be encouraged.

Can I be enough now and yet get better? Of course!  That’s called growth.  But we don’t have to wait to be “better” to live life fully enough.  Let go of the lies that are telling you you are not enough.  You are enough.  Today.  Right now.  You are enough.

Let’s change our perspectives together.  Let’s live our lives fully no matter what the number on the scale says. We can focus on gratitude rather than lack.  Because when we’re thankful for being enough, and we let go of the ‘not enough’ in others and become thankful for who we are and what our bodies are, then we’re free to focus on others.

 Mothers, I don’t have to tell you our lives are full of doing for others.  And the paradox is the more we pour out, the more we are filled.  It’s beautiful.  You’re beautiful.  It’s enough.  You’re enough.  Happy Mother’s Day.

Question:  Do you know you are enough?  What keeps you from celebrating that?  How can you begin celebrating your “enough-ness”?  Please leave your comments below.

The post Celebrating a Mother’s Day ‘Enough’ appeared first on Christy Largent.

I hemmed and hawed and finally blurted out “because I don’t want to buy shorts in this big size, it’s not who I really am.” She quickly replied, “Then you need to get on it and quit talking about it. Here’s your challenge Mama.  This month, no sugar, few carbs and move every day.” Ouch. Did I mention Amelia is 10 years old?

My first diet was when I was 10 years old. I wanted to be just like this girl named Jill. She was tall and skinny. She had long brown stringy hair. I was short and round with lush and lovely long brown hair. I didn’t see my beautiful hair, just that I wasn’t thin enough.  And so it began. That was 1973.

Today is May 2, 2014 (40 years!!!) and I’m still caught in the “not enough” web. Interestingly enough, I’m currently reading a book by Brene Brown called Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead I’m only about 1/3 of the way through but I believe this will be a life changing book for me.  Shame, perfectionism, fear, vulnerability. All these topics are covered in a fresh way. How can I have been so ashamed of who God made me for all these years? How has that shame etched it’s way down into my soul so that I fear it colors every thought? What if I can dare greatly and banish the shame? At least for today.

Amelia hit a nerve. A raw nerve. It’s raw from worry and thought and effort and guilt and sadness and frustration and fear. Most of all fear. For now that I’ve hit 50, my body is so different than it ever was before. Before, I could just hold on by the skin of my teeth and have some semblance of normalcy. Now, my body is horrific to my eyes. Can I be that honest here? Do any of you relate?

For the past 4 weeks I have been taking a learn to podcast class called Podcasting A-Z with Cliff Ravenscraft.  www.podcastanaserman.com  Podcasting is intimate and personal. I’ve come to know my fellow class members as friends and comrades. Pretty much none of us have ever done anything like podcasting before. We’re all new. We’re all learning. Which means most of us are showing our “weaknesses” to each other. And it’s ok. We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders. We are Daring Greatly together.

What I have noticed is that the more “real” we are with each other, the more progress we are making. Can I be “real” here on this blog? In my podcast? I believe I have to be. I am able to help you with your communication skills, with understanding the various Personalities in your life. With improving your life. And at the same time, I want to be transparent with you. To share with you my struggles and victories.

Why? Because I know many of you are struggling with the same “not enough” problem that I am. And maybe as I learn how to grow through it I will inspire you to do the same.

So back to this morning. On the way home from dropping the kids I turned on Dr. Kevin Leman’s “Have a New Child By Friday” podcast. I kid you not, the first words out of his mouth were “You have to flaunt your imperfections...if you want to loose a few pounds, post your weight at your office…Be sure to print your name…and then post that weight for the whole office to see. Then the following Monday, weigh yourself and post the new weight.” Hmmm…..”Flaunt Your Imperfections.”

So, in the spirit of the day, week and month. Here goes. Every Friday morning I will write a little post with an update on my challenge. My passion to get fit and healthy will be detailed here.  In the spirit of transparency…187. Three little numbers. I’ll plan on encouraging you weekly with my progress. Please encourage me with yours.

Question: Are you Daring Greatly? Please share. I dare you.

The post She Gave Me A Challenge… appeared first on Christy Largent.