Girl on Fire

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

Whether you love it or hate it, Facebook is an undeniable part of our lives.

And yes, I’m dying a little on the inside admitting that sad, sad, fact.

But sift through all the wedding and baby announcements, the cooking videos and political rants, and sometimes, juuuust sometimes, you’ll come across a gem.

A little nugget of pure goodness…be it a particularly hysterical cat video, a painfully embarrassing #TBT, or something that is actually -DareISayIt- meaningful.

tumblr_o16fl8KYwc1v5dqido1_400

And that happened today.

It was a quote by St. Catherine of Siena.

And let me just pause — I don’t care if you’re Catholic, Methodist, a non-denominational Christ follower, Jewish, atheist, searching, whatever you believe — saints are simply good role models of upstanding lives.

Better a saint than, say, good ol’ Kim Kardashian, amIright?

tumblr_li37jiivj71qas5js

But I digress.

Writing about having Christ in a person’s heart: “Christ can give life, having in herself such vital force that no one can stay her…She shed forth strength and light and that no one can deprive her of it.”

I read that and I had to catch my breath.

Because that, friends, is the story of my recovery from anorexia.


Her description of the power that comes when Christ is living in your heart is exactly how I overcame my eating disorder.

Because I could not break free from the prison of ED. I did not want help. I did not want to be well. I wanted to retreat from the world while I wasted away to 78 pounds.

By all accounts I should not have been able to sustain living in that state, at death’s door, for as long as I did.

But God.

But God came in and broke through my walls I had built around my heart and reassured me and gave me peace and gave me the will to live. To recover. To embrace who I am in Him. Who I had been. Who I could be.

And that was the only way I could put the weight on and continue to choose recovery each and every day.


I can honestly say that Christ in my heart really did give me a “vital force that no one [not even ED] could stay me.”

A vital force.

“Shedding forth strength and light.” 

And let me just pause for a second here. I am not boasting in myself here. The only reason I can say these things is because they are not my doing. Had it been left up to me, I would probably still be a shivering, gaunt and lifeless heap of vacantness. God is these things. Not me.


Reading this today, I felt like it was just a little nudge of encouragement from God, reminding me that with Him, anything is possible. With Him, there is nothing we can’t do together.

And so I wanted to pass that along to you.

Life is hard. There are a lot of things weighing heavily on us all the time. Be it job troubles. Relationship troubles. Family issues. Addiction or abuse. Or even just the little stresses of day to day life. Life can seem overwhelming at times.

Times where we stand slump-shouldered, looking in the mirror, just trying to make it through another day.

With Him, we are a vital force to be reckoned with. Emitting strength and light.


And the final line of Miss Catherine’s quote was my favorite:

“What then, is my nature? Fire is my nature.”

Gives a whole new meaning to “Girl on Fire,” doesn’t it?

Fire is my nature.

What a powerful image.

I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel like I can conquer the world. Do anything.


It gives me the courage to be brave.

Because He is in my heart.

So thanks, Facebook. This is the prime example why I put up with all your eye-roll worthy poppycock. And it’s for beautiful reminders like this one.

Because of Him, I am a vital force that no one can stay me.

And so are you.

Published by

Unknown's avatar

beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

235 thoughts on “Girl on Fire”

  2. It’s wonderful that you have found that strength outside of yourself 🙂
    Jesus is always that person standing ready to give you a helping hand, to hold you up when you are down – or to carry you when you just can’t find the strength on your own 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I am so glad that someone finally found something worthwhile on Facebook. 😉 I left it a few years ago and never thought to go back. It made me lose faith in humanity but finding this quote brings some of the faith back.

    I love this post – it reminds me how much we have to be thankful for and to accept the help that God is so anxious to give to us.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I immediately smiled when I started reading this. i have just begun my second month of being Facebook free. Turns out deactivating my account after 8-9 years was the best thing I have done for myself in ages. We really don’t NEED it…but then I have a whole lifetimes behind me that was free of all social media to draw from. Lol. This was a beautiful piece. Without Jesus, I would be dead or curled up in a ball in a corner somewhere, dribbling and glassy eyed. Your testimony is heartwarming. Xox

    Like

  14. I am constantly touched by your words and insights. You are an warrior! I’m so proud of you and the real reason isn’t because of the photos you post it’s because you talk about the satisfying Christ. Continue on to do wonderful in his name. I wish you well and many joyus blessings.

    Like

  15. Now, where is the “Love” option, as Facebook has so delightfully added on as a option to react to a post? I agree with your feelings on Facebook, and you nailed it once again. God gave you such a gift – Wisdom. 🙂 Thank you for sharing it.

    Like

  18. Hello Beautybeyondbones! Lovely post, thank you. Yes the love-hate thing with FB, is growing among thinking people. I too struggled with wanting to recover (this time). For a short time I was so beaten down I didn’t even want to get back up. Now the struggle is the vitality part. I have inner fire.I always have had it. Currently I just want to protect the little-bitty lighter-like flame. I don’t want to lose myself again by trying to get it any bigger. Higher Power, HELP!!
    Here’s to YOUR fire through Christ!

    Like

  19. I stopped by to thank you for visiting “Lillith’s Landing.” Although I have a couple other blogs that have been around a while, “L.L.” is a new project, and you were the fourth visitor to the site.
    I also wanted to tell you that this post is so lovely — and very encouraging.

    Like

  20. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog to read – it’s such an encouragement during these first months of writing! Sure appreciate you and all you pour into your own blog. Grace & peace, my friend…

    Like

  21. It is good to find support. It is also good you believe in it and in God that makes you stronger. I basically am looking for strength inside me, whenever I feel like the world is crashing down again and I fall into pain and depression, I find some forces inside me. It is also good you are recovering. I wish my injuries were something that can be cured without surgeon’s help, but they aren’t. Well, the depth of suffering is huge, but I rely on myself to get out of there. I always have, I also think most people can lots of things which they don’t dare or try just because some time somebody told them: You cannot do it on your own”. You can. Practically anything.
    I also appreciate anybody who follows my “invisible”secondary blog: https://inesepogalifeschool.com/
    Thanks!

    Like

  22. That is beautiful. I am an atheist, but I believe that if your faith helps you get through this life then more power to you. But don’t give all the credit to Christ, or God, because it was YOU who survived, and got through it. You really are that strong. Don’t forget it. Xx

    Like

    1. Thank you so much for this Kelly. I really appreciate that. Yeah, it was definitely a difficult season for sure. But I am grateful to be on the other side. So glad you stopped by ❤️Sending hugs and love xox

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I have a Facebook account to keep up with things that interest me, that requires Facebook. But I don’t use my regular account anymore. I’m too much of an IT insider – I know what can be done with all that data we carelessly spread about ourselves on the internet. Think “it’s the last day” and “mark of the beast” for ye true believers….
    From purely secular perspective, It’s simply creepy with that amount of insight into people’s lives, and even creepier what happens to the data you leave in the “safe” hands of Facebook (goes straight into the NSA vaults, just for starters). You cross reference Google’s data on you, with that of WordPress, Gravatar, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. No. I’m not taking that risk. Think of the Stasi in East Germany – people are still upset about that, but it really was nothing compared to what these IT companies and the NSA are already doing. Think about all the Jews in Europe who registered when asked in the 1930s. And look where that got them. You just never know. Nobody’s going to be profiling my life on the internet. I’ve taken measures 🙂

    Like

    1. Hi Hanna, thank you for this perspective! It is frightening when you stop and think about how much of our lives are on the Internet. They don’t call it it Facebook -stalking- for nothing! Haha but seriously-it’s a little alarming. Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox

      Like

  29. Thanks for your faithful following of Miss Marple on her recovery journey! I hope you agree that the description of the recovery process could apply to many troubles that we have in our lives, not just alcohol addiction. I’m sure you will know much more than me about this from the inside so your support has meant a great deal to me.

    Like

    1. Thank you so much for this. You’re so right – recovery, whether from anorexia or addiction – definitely encompasses lessons that can be applied to so much of life. glad you stopped by! hugs and love xox

      Like

  40. This is a beautifully written testimony of how Gods love and light breaks through. I’ve had dark struggles in my past (not an eating disorder, but equally destructive behavior) and I can honestly say that God had to break me. He broke me down into a thousand pieces and put me back together with such care that I could feel the process. I’m still feeling the process. Now, his light shines through the cracks and holes that were once a sign of my brokenness. Lots of love sister.

    Like

  41. Thanks for your honesty! As a recovering addict, I can relate. I remember a mewithoutYou lyric, “we’re not half as bad as God is good”. Anyways, keep it and, oh, thanks for the follow!

    Like

  44. Amen, Sister! Fire is our nature!! I love how your blog tracks the shifting identity of the utter brokenness of doing to the freedom of being. Being Who God designed and breathed you to be. What a beautiful witness you are. Many, many, many blessings!!

    Like

Join the Conversation!