The Weight of Worth

There are two mornings out of every month when waking with my children is not my job. Those Saturdays are special. I savor them. Last Saturday was decadent. Rain outside made my bed cozier than usual.

I rolled out of bed anxious for a nice warm shower. I pulled the scale out from under the sink and stripped to ensure not a single excess ounce would be revealed. "Mom, can I weigh first?" breaks me from my Saturday morning daze. My six year old is standing in the doorway impatient to stand on the scale.

I adjust the scale to his "user profile". His previous weight flashes on the read out, followed by his current weight, and finally a glimpse of the delta. He is elated to see he has added five pounds to his six year old frame. I complement his new addition and we smile at the obvious blessing of a growing, healthy boy.

"Your turn mom." I adjust the scale to my profile. The scale diligently remembers my previous weight. Then, quickly shows me my current weight. There's no drum roll. (I would have appreciated a drum roll.) And, then the delta. "Ah, mom, you beat me! Six pounds!" He's beaming at me. Thrilled by what he sees as mom's victory.

Instantly, my morning is damp and dark. What I thought was a cozy morning moments ago has been altered. Lie #8: my worth is measured in weight.

THE TRUTH IS...a number is a number. That number doesn't own me, and it doesn't own you. Why do we stand on scales? I mean really - ponder this for a minute. Why? We know when we feel good. We know when our clothes are fitting great. We know. So, why bother with the scale?

I will not be measured by a number. There isn't a number big enough that can measure my worth. Therefore, scales are not for me.