Water – Plain or Living

In the not-so-distant past (at my age ten years is not so distant), I used to drink a Big Gulp a day.  Any time I was out running around, I stopped by a mart and got one to sip on as I drove.  Ironically, I made sure I didn’t use diet because of the cravings triggered by that and I avoided caffeine because it isn’t good for you.  I knew which marts could satisfy my criteria. 

Then came the day I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis.  As I did my research on how to take care of that issue, I discovered that pop leaches your bones.  Well, I wanted the best bones I could have, so I cut myself off.  And I struggled.  Plain water just didn’t work.  I tried all kinds of brands and different flavors.  I probably drove John nuts with my frustrations.  But I was determined.  

I no longer drink pop.  I drink plain water.  All day.  Every day.  Sometimes I have decaffeinated tea.  Yay me. 

Last evening as I sat in the tv room, I flicked through the channels.  My list of programs I used to record was empty. Over the last months I’ve been deleting one show after another.  Just as the Big Gulp used to satisfy my need for a drink, the shows I used to watch had satisfied my desire for entertainment.  But as my awareness grew of what different shows contained, I began to purge my list.  And I struggled.  I had enjoyed those programs, some for years. I would never know what happened to certain characters.  Who died.  Who got married.  But I wanted to be the best Christ-follower I could be.  

I turned the tv off.  

I chose to turn to the Living Water.  There is a plethora of options available.  Evenings are when I work on my afghan ministry, crocheting or knitting.  That makes it easy to listen to a podcast.  Last night’s choice was David Jeremiah.  I jotted down a few notes as he talked. I’ve subscribed to a faith-based channel that shows good movies. Those all-important shows are now a faded memory.  

I’m working on taking care of my health, physically and spiritually.  

“Jesus replied, ‘If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10 (NLT)