Rainbow Moments

One recent morning started like most others: morning coffee, breakfast, the day’s plan in place. A handful of dark gray clouds floated by but their threats of rain were overshadowed by clear brilliance on the horizon. Suddenly, as if someone turned on a giant light switch, it got brighter outside. I was glad I happened to be looking out the window at that moment because in a tiny space of time, no more than ten minutes, a rainbow appeared in all its vivid display of color. Every shade of the ROYGBIV pattern could be clearly identified and I could not stop staring. Then, without a warning, it was suddenly gone.

I had both a mammogram and a colonoscopy this past month (such fun!), and the ten seconds it took for me to read those form letters indicating there were no problems are now to me like the precious “rainbow moment.” I used to take those letters for granted, but recent stories of family and friends fighting cancer help me to appreciate the little things even more.

I think the rainbow is one of God’s ways to interrupt my day filled with uninspiring routines, bills to pay, work to do, errands to run. A rainbow’s colorful display in all its splendor shows me the joy that can be found in my own attitude, regardless of my activity. I, too, can be a colorful display of God’s love, peace and joy in this world.

What do you think about when you see a rainbow?

Tip of the week:
It's time to try something new! (again!) Every once in a while, try a new recipe, a new workout routine, or a new weight watchers program--starts this week!

Restart Rainbow

I have a lot of scriptures that are favorites as my lifeline for each new morning when it’s time to start over on the food battles for the day. Some days are uneventful; even peaceful, and for those I’m thankful. Other days are simply challenges from the moment I wake up---from that first bite at breakfast I’m ready to eat anything that hasn’t moved. Those are the days where this ‘starting over’ concept is most helpful. The next morning and the new start is always a blessing.

Starting over is colorful, like the colors of a rainbow. The rainbow scheme reminds me of the emotional ride through the day that can accompany the new day’s eating regimen. Let me travel through the colors with you:
RED – the starting over is bold, and daring, like this bold color; there’s some pain involved. It’s here I can remember how I went off track with my eating the day before and need to accept it and move on.
ORANGE – next I sense the brightness of a new harvest; it’s time to cash in on a new experience for the day.
YELLOW -- I’m joy-filled and excited for these new chances in this new day.
GREEN – As the new day continues I can feel mellow/ calm and steady; I maintain the refueling that a new start brings.
BLUE – I feel peaceful; as the day proceeds, I can either maintain this peace, or start to feel ‘down’
INDIGO – a dark color reflecting a darker mood as I reflect on this day’s events and how I handled food choices accordingly. I’m either melancholy or reflective.
VIOLET – the deepest but possibly the most beautiful color of all; this color represents the beautiful complexity of emotions that accompany the eating cycle of the day.

It’s God and his grace that keeps me going. Psalm 5:3 (NLT) “Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Yay, God!

Tip of the week:
Restart every day, every meal, or every hour if you need to. But simply restart. The only way to fail is to quit.