It's official: I'm a FLY Baby.
What?
FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself, and this is a program to get your life and your home in order so that you can be rescued from CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome).
So: I use Weight Watchers (WW) for my healthy eating and exercise program. And with some other WW people on the message boards, we are reading/learning the Beck Diet Solution. One of her (Dr. Beck) principles is that whenever ever you resist temptations, you strengthen your resistance muscle. On another day, Beck talks about using the "Oh Well" technique. When you encounter something that you just don't want to do with your diet, one way to combat the sabotaging thoughts is to say, "Oh well, I can't do that" and then move on. I think of it as a very kind, but firm way to talk to the inner monster [what some would call the inner child, but I like to reserve the inner child as a positive image, the child of God that we all are].
Beck suggests that this is the same thing we say to ourselves when we automatically do other daily tasks like teeth brushing, getting dressed, and *sirens* keeping our house clean. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh she's funny, that one. I looked around my house. Clutter. More dirt than I care to admit. My Oh Well muscle is shot all to hell.
I mentioned this on the boards, that I needed to work on the housework as a way of strengthening my weight loss program. And of course, while it may not be linked as direct cause and effect, it is still true that when I am in a neat environment, my eating and exercise habits are better. So another person suggested that I try out
Fly Lady and here I am. Fly Lady gets you into her program by easing you into her system over 31 days, and then slowly, over time, reinforcing the cleaning, organizing, and lifestyle skills until you have shifted your habits to include basic household cleanliness as a way of being. This is a gift that I want to give to myself and to my family. And her program reminds me a lot of Beck. One day at a time. New habits and skills and fun challenges. Did I mention it's free? Free!
And all of this FLYing has reminded me of one of the best hymns ever written.
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| Fly, for temptation is near thee. This tune resonates in my heart. |
Flee as a Bird
Flee as a bird to your mountain,
Thou who art weary of sin;
Go to the clear-flowing fountain,
Where you may wash and be clean;
Fly, for temptation is near thee,
Call, and the Savior will hear thee;
He on His bosom will bear thee,
O thou who art weary of sin,
O thou who art weary of sin.
He will protect thee forever,
Wipe ev'ry falling tear;
He will forsake thee O never,
Sheltered so tenderly there!
Haste then, the hours are flying,
Spend not the moments in sighing,
Cease from your sorrow and crying,
The Savior will wipe ev'ry tear,
The Savior will wipe ev'ry tear.
He is the bountiful Giver,
Now unto Him draw near,
Peace then shall flow as a river,
Thou shalt be saved from thy fear.
Hark! 'tis thy Savior calling,
Haste, for the twilight is falling,
Flee, for the night is appalling,
And thou shalt be saved from thy fear,
And thou shalt be saved from thy fear.
Come then to Jesus thy Saviour,
He will redeem thee from sin;
Bless with the sense of his favor,
Make thee all glorious within.
Call, for the Saviour is near thee,
Waiting, in mercy to hear thee,
And by his presence to cheer thee,
Oh, thou who art weary of sin.
Oh, thou who art weary of sin.
Oh, 'twill be joy when I see Him!
See Him and hear Him say, come!
Oh, 'twill be joy when I hear Him
Saying, my child, welcome home!
Now thou are free from thy sorrow,
There thou shalt ne'er trouble borrow,
Night never comes nor tomorrow,
With Jesus forever to dwell,
With Jesus forever to dwell.
--Author: Mary Dana Shindler, 1840. Tune: FLEE AS A BIRD
[Most of the hymnals only had two verses, but some had three, and there are different combinations, though always at least the first stanza. For more on this hymn, go to:
Hymnary.org ]
I think that this journey I am on to get my "house" in order is something God is calling me to--a clean home and a healthy "caboose." Oh, 'twill be joy when I hear Him saying, "my child, welcome home!"
The sink is shiny clean, y'all.
