Well, folks, I woke up to the first emergency of Christmas this morning…

No, the Christmas tree didn’t fall over and break all the ornaments, the lights on the house didn’t burn out; a pipe didn’t break and flood the bottom floor of the house and I actually haven’t run out of wrapping paper…yet.

No, it wasn’t any of those Christmas “emergencies,” but, in my Christmas book, something potentially just as devastating: I had to go to a “check-up” with my primary physician this morning.

Now, if you’re wondering why a simple doctor visit constitutes an emergency, one of two things must be true about you:

1. You’ve never had to go to the doctor during the month of December, or
2. Weight is not an issue for you.

Now, if number one is true for you, I’ll I can say is,

“Your time’s comin’ , Sweetie…”

If number two is true for you, just don’t tell me and we can still be friends.

If you’re STILL confused, all together now, what happens at a “check-up?”

YOU HAVE TO WEIGH, that’s what!

I’m not sure what evil scheme has been at work behind my back or which nurse in the office I upset, but, yes, I started my day off today at the doctor, on the scale.

“Come in for a ‘check-up,” they say; “We just need to check your labs,” they say. Uh-huh. I just want to say,

“Listen, if you’re going to be used by satan and try to ruin my Christmas, at least tell the truth!” I mean, own your evil deeds, am I right?

The truth is, I knew I had probably gained weight, even though I try so hard to keep it down. Between some changes in my medication and successfully consuming almost an entire cheeseball by myself, it wasn’t hard to guess. I mean, not LOTS of weight – all my clothes are still fitting fine, but you know, you know?

Now, during 10 months of the year, I try hard to eat fairly well and exercise, so I’m not saying just go and out and “Eat, drink and be merry,” except for during the holidays! Right?

So, for the last week, I’ve been scheming ways to not have to weigh. Some of the things I’ve considered include:

• explaining that I ate pasta for dinner last night, so I’m bloated – that and, you know, the cheeseball
• explaining that I was on prednisone due to some unfortunate dermatitis on my face that looks like leprosy (truth)
• stripping down to my bra and panties so that “they get an accurate number,” I mean, that’ll teach ’em, right?

Well, today finally arrived, so i put on my lightest pair of jeans and Christmas t-shirt, because that’s my go-to outfit at the moment, and drove to the office. I arrived a little early, sat in the car and gave myself a little pep talk. It went something like this,

“Alright, this is it. W-Day is here. It’s not what you expected to happen 6 days before Christmas, 30+ days after you began eating your holiday smorgasbord, but here you are anyway. You’ve heard the horrors of days like this all of your adult life; you can do this. Go in there with your head held high, Girl – YOU are not defined by a number.”

And, you know, for once, I got it right. I am absolutely NOT defined by a number on a scale…that is usually higher anyway, but, I regress; I’m not defined by a number and neither are you, friend!

Now, maybe weight is not your emergency issue this Christmas; maybe it’s something else. Maybe, as hard as you’ve tried, your Christmas decor doesn’t look like the pictures on Pinterest, in Southern Living, or Good Housekeeping or some other irritating publication; maybe you look at the lovely Christmas cards coming in or pictures of Facebook friends’ families all in matching outfits, smiling beautifully, and you can’t even find CLEAN clothes for all your kids, let alone matching outfits.

Or, maybe your Christmas emergency is even more complicated; maybe you hear friends talking about all the gifts they’re buying for their kids this year, you read your kids’ Christmas wish lists, and realize the funds just aren’t going to be there this year. Been there.

Here’s the truth I hope you can remember and keep in the forefront of your mind, as Christmas is closing in:

Nothing we can wear, buy, cook, wrap, host, do, be or weigh, defines us: the ONLY thing we should ever allow to define us is what God-our Father, Creator, Designer and so much more-says about us! And, what is that, you ask? Check these out:

• God says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
• God says I am loved. John 3:16 (and so many more)
• God puts great value in me. Matthew 10:29-31
• God says I am strong in Him. Nehemiah 8:10
• God says in Him, I am enough. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• God’s plan for me is perfect. Jeremiah 29:11

Friends, as wonderful as the holiday season is, in a world of Southern Living, Facebook and Instagram, we can often feel inadequate and like we’re failing. But, that’s not true! No matter what you’re facing or how many ways you can count that you don’t measure up, join me in remembering that, no matter how we may be feeling, what God SAYS about us is truth! In every situation, every single time!

So, I took a deep breath, went in and weighed, – yes, a few pounds up. My doc came in, had the visit and mentioned that maybe “Thanksgiving had ‘fattened me up a bit,” and I looked at him, square in the face, and said,

“Maybe so, but it’s Christmas and I’m not worried about it!”

To which he smiled and replied, “Works for me!”