confessions of a convert: fasting.

for those of you reading who are not mormon,

the first sunday of each month the LDS church has what is called 

"fast and testimony meeting".

members of the church are asked to fast, or give up all food and drink, 

for two consecutive meals (typically sunday breakfast and lunch).

then, the money that would have been spent on those two meals 

is donated to the church to help those in need.

while fasting we are asked to be prayerful about something specific in our lives.

we fast to deny ourselves of our physical and temporal needs, 

and to focus on our spiritual selves.

 

on top of fasting, 

at church, members of the congregation are given the opportunity 

to stand up in front of everyone and bear their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

{a testimony is something that you personally know to be true.}

fast sundays, as we call them, have been quite different for me that past 13 months.

the thing is-- you are not supposed to fast while pregnant or nursing.

now here's the confession: i was not upset about this.

fasting is hard for me. i am not going to lie.

i am usually cranky 

and i get pretty bad headaches when i don't eat for long periods.

plus, i love food.

 

that being said, i realized this week how important fasting is.

my testimony of fasting was strengthened.

while i couldn't give up food for two meals, i gave up something else:

social media.

i know, i know. lame right?

 i wanted to give up something that i used constantly 

and the thing is, the past few months i feel like i have been glued to my phone...

checking in on facebook and instagram constantly. 

all things considered, 

i figured i could 'fast' from something i used a lot in lieu of giving up food and drink.

so... i gave up all forms of social media for the day.

i was suprised to find myself in a better mood.

more clear headed.

more present.

i spent more time singing and playing with chloe.

i spent more time talking with my family.

how sad is it that it took me giving up social media completely 

to realize how much i am on it?!

 

i realized yesterday, 

that no matter how you fast, 

we are asked to do so for a reason.

and that reason is different for everyone.

for me, it was to show me what's really important.

...and that the world doesn't end when you ditch facebook for the day.

plus-- this is the view i got, instead of my phone screen:

{don't you wanna just pinch those cheeks?!}