Eating disorders, to the human ear, sounds like a sensitive and
unopened topic. In many, if not all cases, it is a sensitive topic; however, eating
disorders remains a vital subject to be addressed. Recently, three of
Northland’s faculty or staff wives shared their thoughts with a group of
Northland’s female students regarding the common struggle of eating disorders.
Mrs. Laurie Priest, Mrs. Hannah Scott, and Mrs. Carissa Belford opened up about
their own past struggles and even their personal experiences with counseling in
the delicate area of eating disorders.
Mrs. Priest challenged the girls who were present to see food as a gift
from God—not something to be detested. She explained that God gave humans a
dependence on food, which is really a dependence on God. Mrs. Priest shared
further that because of the problem of a wrong view of God with many girls, the
issue is not with the food but lies in the heart. She concluded, “We need to
fill ourselves up with God and not our flesh.”
Mrs. Scott shared from her personal struggles how God guided in her
view of herself. She discussed with the girls how to view their bodies as a
temple and to glorify God in their bodies. She also challenged the girls who
attended to realize they are complete in Christ. Women as chosen and special
children of God should care more about how God views them than what others
think.
Counseling girls with these struggles was an experience that Mrs.
Belford shared, encouraging the girls present to not view their bodies as their
enemies. She assessed that the root of the issue is a person’s theology of God.
He loves them, and they should live to please Him. Mrs. Belford summarized that
Christians need to find their love, security, and identity in Christ.
As intended, the panel was very informative and encouraging to the
attendees. The girls were challenged to view themselves in God’s light and were
given insights on how to help others in the future.