Guest Blogger: Tammy Webb-Witholt

You know those friends who add life to you? Those friends who see life from a multifaceted perspective? Those friends who are just plain fun to hang out with? That's who Tammy Webb-Witholt is to me!

We can go for long stretches of time --I mean looong-- and as soon as we see each other, the laughs start! Two words: Sister Vestal. I'm giggling, now! 

A beautiful lady, born to missionary parents and raised in West Africa, Tammy seems fearless (to me), thrives on culture, loves to write and speaks life into hurting and searching people. Top it all off...she's tall and blonde! Just beautiful! Venture over to Beyond the Silence for more of her soul-FULL and spot-on reflections. Grab a hankie, first.

I asked if I could share her recent blog post, thus introduce you to the jewel who is my friend!

THE SKINNY ON CONTENTMENT

Lately I’ve been paraphrasing Paul’s verse from 

circumstances, I’ve learned to be content. Whether rich Philippians 4:11-12, that in whatever or poor, hungry or fed, skinny or fat: I’ve learned to be content.

Oddly enough my version isn’t too far from the original. However the reason I’ve been quoting my paraphrase is because of a group of women in a boutique in Jackson, Tennessee.

Before I go any further let me say I’ve never been one to group shop. My husband, blessed martyr that he is, has a great eye and usually agrees to shop with me about twice a year when I need to reinforce my wardrobe. Other than that I’m not much of a shopper of clothes, especially since my clothes have gotten uncomfortably snug. I feel a bit like a overssize pillow shoved into an undersize case.

But in early April these ladies unknowingly gave me the gift of a lifetime, and ever since there has been a shift of monumental proportions in my thinking.

For you see since I was ten years old I’ve always been concerned that I was too fat. And there were some occasions, even as a young person when I put on more weight than I should. During my junior year of high school the soft pretzels in a Philadelphia suburb did me in. For a lifetime, I’ve struggled with weight and self-image. Actually it was more than that – with extra weight came a sense of self-loathing. Terribly unhealthy – but who knew?

However, during that day in April those ladies liberated me.  They were beautiful, and comfortable in their own skin. They realized that their purpose for being was defined by more than a dress size, and somehow in those joyous shopping moments I was set free!

Free I tell you. So now I quote – whether I’m skinny or fat I’ve learned to be content. I want to be healthy and active and that’s my goal.  The result may be a smaller clothing size, but until that day – I am content…

… and grateful to that beautiful group of ladies, who were of all shapes and size.

Be sure to check out Tammy's book, Harvest of Joy: A Mother-Daughter Memoir, offered on Amazon in either paperback or as an ebook.