:smile:Learning to swim in daunting. You'll probably never forget how it felt to squint across the pool before filling your lungs with that last deep breath. Three strokes later, your hesitant paddling ended in frantic sputtering when water started closing over your head. At the same moment, strong arms caught you from beneath and lifted you back up to the surface. ( I had this happen to me at age 12 in our large round town lake)

A heart of trust is one of life's sweet but hard-won gifts. The discovery that God is always there, ready to lift you up when you start to sink, replaces fear with courage and timidity with boldness. Along with that courage and boldness comes the strength to face whatever life throws at you~even when it requires a long scary swim to the other side.

We can equate this long scary swim to the other side, to our decision to have the LAP-BAND®®® as well. We are uncertain, hopeful, scared and wanting. We have to get decisive, use the courage that we can drum up from within and be bold and go forward with our decision, trusting that we are doing the RIGHT thing for us! I know that I could not do a thing or make a decision without first trusting God to guide me. When I decided to do this LAP-BAND®®® thing, I was scared, unsure of how it would affect my life, how it would change me and my family, could I do it? It became a decision I had to Trust! Some days, I am still scared. I will try to eat something and I question myself, can I eat this? Will it get stuck? And I can get on edge about the band. Other days there is no question. I am starting to feel Normal with the band, not apprehensive at all, about getting together with friends attending functions such as weddings, showers, and parties without thinking everyone is watching me eat. I feel like one of the bunch again! I thank God everyday for my decision.:tt2:

In you O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Psalm 31:1 NKIV

Dear God, I am a child in your arms. Thank you for holding me in your loving embrace. I depend on your provision and protection. Amen