No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptationhe will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
Old habits die hard. I’ve spent the last week trying to slay the last vestiges of my sugar addiction. I finished my 21 days of sugar detox weekend before last. The first food off the approved list I ate was German Potato Salad, one of my favorite foods. I only ate half a serving, but it was enough to know that my taste buds had indeed changed. What used to be a food that would set off my cravings for sweets now satisfies with just a few forkfuls. Two days later, I made some chocolate chip cookies and again found a little more than enough. That is what the detox was designed to do. Now, it will be up to me to keep myself from reverting to gluttony and getting used to overeating again. The surprising thing was realizing that gluten has been the cause of the acid reflux which I have suffered from for years. I did not need any medication the entire time I was on the detox diet. As soon as I introduced bread back into my diet, I got extremely sick. Bread is now back on my no, no list. Despite my head knowledge, I still find myself reverting to old habits. My dad lived in Tampa during his late elementary and middle school years. I told him that I saw where his old neighborhood is now a historic district and he wanted to go back and see. Last week, we planned a morning to visit his old stomping grounds before he had a doctor’s visit in the afternoon. We saw the three schools he attended, found their old house, church, river and parks where he played. He told lots of stories about his childhood that I never heard before. We topped off the morning with lunch at the Columbia Restaurant and a visit to the Italian bakery. I had not been in the bakery in years, but remembered the fancy cookies fondly and promptly ordered two pounds. As the clerk filled up a big box with an assortment of cookies, it dawned on me that two pounds is a lot of cookies. And what was I to do with all those cookies when they were the last thing I needed to feast upon? When the clerk handed them to me, I had this overwhelming urge to leave them on the counter and run away as fast as I could, but I was too embarrassed to do so. I paid for them and carried them to the car, all the while wondering what I could do with two pounds of cookies besides eat every single one of them. Fortunately, we still had the doctor’s visit to go, so I decided to give the cookies to the doctor and his staff. They were one happy bunch and I managed to avoid the temptation that would have only brought me harm. Next time, I will know not to even go inside! Or at least, think before I order!
Good for you!!! In desperation, after years of tummy trouble, I tried giving up gluten for 6 weeks. Never felt better! Since then, I have accidently ingested wheat products or made the decision to have "just a little" and been thrown down in pain. It's hard to believe I lived with this every day for so long. Wheat is not my friend, nor probably many other people's. It has not been easy to pass on cookies or cakes or sandwiches, but I do and after the initial temptation, feel much happier with my choice. Knowing what you're going through, I'm standing on your sidelines cheering you on!