This month, I will be celebrating a significant life event.

Sunday, April 17, 2016, marks my 10-year anniversary of weight loss surgery.

This season also marks another important reminder for me, as well. A few weeks ago we celebrated a spiritual victory—Passover. A time when we remember the exodus; the release of the Israelite slaves from their captivity in Egypt. Today, we celebrate this historical landmark as Easter—remembering the death and resurrection of Christ and our freedom from spiritual slavery to sin and death.

For me, these events of victory and freedom have a lot in common. Oddly enough, I had RNY weight loss surgery on Easter Monday in 2006, which I call my personal resurrection day. 

This week, I was reminded of another biblical, as well as historical, symbol of victory and freedom—the giving and receiving of a white stone, which reveals a new hidden identity.

In the bible, Revelation 2:17 tells us that those who overcome will be given a white stone with a new name on it.

 "To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it." (ASV)

In biblical times, engraved white stones were given to someone who was accused of a wrong doing, taken to court, and acquitted. The personally engraved white stone was like an ID card—a symbol of their innocence and freedom. Engraved stones were also given to those who were released from prison.

In Roman times, having your name engraved on a white stone was also a symbol of accomplishing a victory in an athletic event.

In modern times, we might also relate to having our names engraved on stone if we have ever won a trophy. Famous stars, have their name engraved on a stone in the streets of Hollywood. If you are a military hero, you might have your name written, in honor, on a stone wall.

Having a name engraved on a stone might also remind us of a gravestone marker. That's where my name might have been if I hadn't changed my lifestyle 10 years ago. Even though I wasn't dead physically, I certainly felt as though obesity had put-to-death the quality of my life. I decided to have surgery to get my life back. As a result of losing 164 pounds, I gained my health and a new lease on life. But more importantly, I gained freedom and victory from the debilitating and deadly grip of obesity—physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Over the last 10 years—I've experienced and overcome a multitude of changes and challenges—both outwardly and inwardly. I've accomplished more than losing weight. I've had to re-discover the new me—my new self-image and my new identity. I've had to re-examine the old labels I wore. Not just my clothing size, or my outward appearance, but how I thought about who I was on the inside.

Ressurection indeed! Only those who have personally overcome trials, hardships and life-changing circumstances will ever know the sweet taste of inward victory or the profound depth and gravity of freedom.

I invite you to join me in this season—celebrating new life, victory, identity and freedom. 

Yes, we can, we have many more miles to go!

Photo taken by Amanda Holloman, Millie Holloman Photography / April 2016