Monday, March 30, 2009

A GOD THING




It really is.
You see, I haven't had any soda....NONE...since February 25th.

I know a lot of folk won't understand this....a lot of you have never had the God thing happen to you.

Sure, I know it's good for me to stop, but my desire was ONLY to cut down and not be so dependent on Dr Pepper.

But.....then the God thing happened.

How do I know it's God? Well, there are a few reasons.

First, as I previously stated, I never wanted to cut out, just cut back.

Second, I've never really had a strong enough desire to cut back enough.

Third, it came to me out of the "blue-clear sky."

Fourth, I never had the will-power to actually stop drinking them completely.

Fifth, I just know it in my spirit.

Some of you are rolling your eyes...it's OK that you don't understand. You don't need to.

Let me tell you how it happened....

On Tuesday, the 24th, my hubby and I were lying in bed talking, when it hit me. We weren't talking sodas. We weren't talking health. We weren't talking addiction....nothing. Into my head pops the thought that we, as a family, MUST give up sodas.

I'm not sure if it's for health reasons, or addiction reasons or what. Maybe it's all the sugar. Maybe it's all the chemicals. Maybe it's the caffeine. Whatever it is, I just know that we all have to get rid of it.

I told my sweet hubby, who has supported this decision from the get-go. I had 1 Dublin and 4 2-liter bottles (that were opened, but still had about 1/2). We allowed my 2nd son to take the Dublin to his teacher and we dumped the rest. Yes....there were some brimming tears, but still....

See, when we (meaning my hubby and I) are teaching our children to obey, we do not allow them to question until AFTER they obey. If it is not instant obedience, it is not obedience. I don't mind the question...I really don't. Questions like, "Why can't we watch a certain TV show?" That is OK....what is NOT OK is for me, or Daddy, to tell them to do something and they ask "why" before it is done.

So not only do I have to obey the Big Man, Himself, but I have to set an example for my kids.

We told the kids, "We don't drink soda." They wanted to know what brought Mom, of all people, to such a crazy assumption. All I could tell them was that God told me to. They get that......it's one thing to disobey Mom, but you don't disobey God.

So there you are.....we are done with sodas. We have been almost 5 weeks without any. I assure you, the Dr Pepper industry took a hit, but that is OK.

Now, to try to answer a few of the questions that you are thinking....

Yes, I did have horrible headaches.
Yes, I still crave them, but I haven't really WANTED them...does that make sense? (One is physical, one is mental.)

Yes, I still think it would help to have one during my times of stress...which, according to DH, would be about 95% of the time.

No, I can't tell that I've necessarily lost weight. (I have been working out with weights, so am gaining muscle, I hope.) Though I don't feel bloated anymore.

No, I probably will never have a soda again. The rule is for all sodas....even diet.

Yes, I have been drinking tea...even sweet tea...though the sweet is cut down by half.

No, I don't really care WHY God told me to lay off....it's enough that He told me.


So there you go. Just wanted to share.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I know what a big accomplishment this is for you! Keep up the good work!

Catey said...

Good for you! : ) Keep it up!

Anonymous said...

I think your instant obedience to His will for you will be be returned in blessings to you and yours multiplied by many. Good for you!

momof3girls said...

You go girl! I can not imagine how hard an undertaking this must have been. It had to be a God thing. Thanks for being honest and sharing!

Theresa said...

Great post! I gave up soda too! I just gave it up for different reasons...it does get easier as time passes. My one piece of advice, take your own drink with you if then you are prepared. I take a bottle of water with me everywhere I go with a Crystal Light packet in my purse for variety. It helps keep me prepared and not tempted to just get "one" because I'm thirsty.