I've been approved!!! Now What?

So my emotions have been running crazy for the last 24 hours.  I found out that I was approved for surgery and I got my date of Nov. 4th.  Then my brain registered that I've been approved and I'm scheduled for surgery on Nov. 4th.  Whoa! 

I'm at crossroads on how to tell people at my church.  I am a very active member of my church and am also the church secretary.  I've started to tell some people and have gotten mostly positive comments.  I start my liquid diet on Oct. 20th and I got the comment today that if I can change my lifestyle do a liquid diet for 15 days why can't I make a permant change in my lifesyle? 

Just a brief background, I'm not extremely obese.  My BMI is about 42 and I my only co-morbidy issue is arthritis in my knee.  But my dad had a massive heart attack at 33 and when he died, he had diabetes, high cholestrol and blood pressure issues.  My brother died of a stroke at 37 and had diabetes and high cholestrol.  I'm 35!  My dad has 8 brothers and sisters all with some sort of heart disease.  My grandfather died of a heart attack and my grandmother and aunt died of brain aneuryms.  My father and brother both died last year just 5 weeks apart and my church was there to surrond me and my family with love.  They know the devastating effects these dieases have had on my family

So my question to my fellow Christians is how did you handle comments from people who didn't approve of your decision?

Thanks!  Everyone input is always helpful!

Jen

Hi, Jen.
People will say things. Part of it is due to lack of education (most people don't know that only 4% lose weight and keep it off) and some may be out of fear for you, although they may not realize that. My younger daughter asked me if I was sure WLS is God's will for me, and after some talking, we uncovered that she was afraid of me having the surgery and had even had a dream that I died during surgery.
I want God's will for me, and His opinion is the only one that matters. I went back and forth, for some time, about whether or not WLS was His will for me. I knew that His perfect will is that I exhibit God-control (I like that better than self-control), that I "keep my body under," that I line my body up with the Word of God so that it is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. However, while I was making progress in those areas, I knew that WLS would help immensely. Finally, I prayed and asked the Lord to either open or close the doors to WLS. With no insurance and, seemingly, no way to pay for it, it seemed impossible. But God has opened every door. It's up to me to walk through them, and I have.
People don't understand the struggle that an obese person goes through. Let's face it, gluttony is accepted in church circles, not seen for the sin that it is. How many times do we get together as believers and NOT eat? Not many.
Education is needed, both about why a person gets obese in the first place (and what a broad field of reasons is that!) and why/how WLS is a tool to take help care of the problem. I put together a mass email to friends and family, telling them about my decision to have WLS, giving links to web videos about my surgeon, the hospital, and the VSG surgery, and I asked for their support. That has been very helpful. When people saw how much research I'd done and how I had anticipated their questions and answered them, they were very supportive. In fact, the elders of my church opened the Emergency Relief Fund to receive funds from people, for my surgery. Over $4,000 has been received. That just amazes my husband and I. What a blessing!
I would encourage you to guard your heart and mind from comments (no matter how lovingly-meant) that discourage you or tear down your faith. God loves you, and if an issue is not addressed in His Word, one way or the other, He says to you, "Jen, I want what you want."
If you can reassure fellow believers that you've made your decision prayerfully and with much research, while they may not agree, the comments will stop. You're doing this for you and your health. That's a very personal decision.
Blessings,
Mary

As usual Mary has put it all quite eloquently! I myself haven't gotten one negative comment. I think we worry too much about what others may think. I imagine somewhere in your journey you will get some negativity, just don't let it bother you. As Mary said if you have prayerfully sought God's will and are confident in your decision don't let anyone else sway you. That is Satan's biggest weapon against us, if he can get us doubting and second guessing he is thrilled. Stay strong and to those who say if you can do it for 15 days why not just do that, just explain that anyone can do something for 15 days but what we need is a lifetime change and that takes intervention in the form of surgery. Obesity is every bit as much a disease as cancer or heart disease and we wouldn't turn down surgical treatment of those. So chin up and go forward with conviction! Best of luck on your surgery!!!