My Body Is Good: Giving Up Diet Culture and Embracing Body Positivity for Lent

by Anne Cumings

Overview

Author Anne Cumings recalls growing up in a culture that scrutinized her body as a source of weakness and sin. Her church warned of "slippery slides into debauchery," and modern culture taught her that she must look a certain way to be attractive, acceptable, even lovable—something to which most women will relate. Now, equipped with a body-positive mindset, she has created an engaging and uplifting study, My Body Is Good, to guide readers through a Lenten season of celebrating their bodies.

Written specifically for women, each daily meditation offers a scripture passage, a reflection, and a prayer. Readers are encouraged to capture their questions, ideas, and thoughts through journaling and other spiritual practices, all with the intention of healing from diet culture. Join her on this Lenten journey and never again forget that your God-given body, made from dust, is good.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780835820103
Publication date:	10/01/2022
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	961,177
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Anne Cumings is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and an elder in The United Methodist Church. In her clinical practice, she integrates her previous experience as a mental health therapist to her ministry, enjoying bearing witness to God's healing power in the context of relationships. She also enjoys curling up with a good book and laughing with her husband, Charlie, and two children, Hazel and Ike. A Michigan native who made her way South by way of Chicago, she currently serves as associate pastor at Tucker First United Methodist Church in Tucker, Georgia. For more information about her clinical practice, visit annecumingslcsw.com.

Table of Contents

Before We Begin 9

Introduction: Word & Flesh 11

Paczki Day 21

Ash Wednesday 24

The Bread Body 27

Look at the Birds 29

Strawberry Donuts Forever 31

Sunday: Anti-Diet Is Not Anti-Health 33

Week 1

The Life Thief 37

The Real American Idol 40

Diet Culture Fails the Test 42

Who's Talking? 44

Losing Weight Won't Heal the Hurt 46

Move with Joy 49

Sunday: Finding Body-Positive Community 51

Week 2

Powers and Principalities 55

Your Body Is a Temple 58

Approach Health with Wisdom 60

Make Peace with Your Body 63

Spiritual Health Is Health Too 65

You Are Not Alone 67

Sunday: Creating Body-Positive Icons 69

Week 3

Eating for the Glory of God 75

Body Diversity Is Beautiful 77

Bread of Life 79

God Had a Body 82

You Don't Need to Be Perfect 84

Inherited Diet Culture 87

Sunday: Spiritual Body Mapping 89

Week 4

What Will We Pass Down? 95

Living in a Resurrection Body 97

All Food Is Morally Neutral 99

Salvation Came Through a Woman's Body 101

There Is a Body for Every Season 103

All Bodies Are Good Bodies 105

Sunday: Watch Your Words 107

Week 5

You Can Trust Your Body 113

Feed Yourself 115

Forgive Yourself 117

You Are Not Too Much 119

It's OK to Have a Bad Body Day 121

Body Freedom 123

Sunday: The First Supper 125

Holy Week

Eat Like a Kid Again 133

Spiritual Hunger 136

Body Privilege 138

Maundy Thursday: God Loves You, Feet and All 140

Good Friday: Body Love in the Shadows 143

Holy Saturday: Body Justice 146

Easter Sunday: Freedom Has Always Been Here 148

Appendix

Resource List 153

Notes 155