By Tom Shanklin

This November I had the opportunity to speak at a local TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) chapter here in Mankato. The way it happened was that back in March of this year Susan joined a local chapter of TOPS. Since that time, between the two of us, we have lost nearly 140 pounds. (I’m thinking we should get better gas mileage now when we travel together in the car.)

Susan’s presence at this TOPS chapter became a great inspiration to the ladies there, especially as she lost weight consistently week after week. After several months, they asked her to speak to the group and share the secrets about how she had “taken off pounds sensibly” week after week. So she spoke to the group about her weight loss, diet, and changes in our lifestyle, at the same time giving glory to God for His part in the process. After she had shared these things, someone in the group asked Susan to share about her background, so she said, “Do you mean you want me to give my testimony?”  “Yes!” they said, and she proceeded to share with the group about how she repented of her sins in 1977 and received salvation and a powerful miracle transformation at that time. Wow! Getting involved in the community is not so bad!

Since the time Susan joined TOPS, she has also been sharing with the ladies about my weight loss. In fact, in their minds it sort of became a light-hearted competition between Susan and me. I never saw it that way, but it made for interesting chatter at TOPS. I had never attended the meetings, but I would often joke that “I’m glad WE joined TOPS.” I said that I was an honorary member. I also decided to pay part of Susan’s membership dues since I am benefitting from TOPS, too. The added incentive of the TOPS Tuesday morning weigh-in helped Susan and also me (by symbiotic relationship) to stay on course. So all the ladies felt like they knew me, although they had not met me.

Then I was invited to come and speak to the group also to share my weight loss experience. I shared some inside information about God’s work in my heart leading up to this period of weight loss and some of the keys which have helped us to lose the weight and to continue on the path. But what is really exciting about this is that I had a great opportunity to share about the power of Christ with the ladies at TOPS. They come from all kinds of spiritual backgrounds, but the president of TOPS had told me that she was glad I could come and bring a “spiritual emphasis.” So I did, including the Gospel of our salvation through Jesus Christ.

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