Fizz-ically Fit
Is
it easy to get hooked on soft drinks, or what?
Whether it’s the real thing, that frosty mug taste or you just think
you’re obeying your thirst, it’s easy to get in the habit of drinking a bite to
eat at 10, 2 and 4 -- and several other numbers around the clock.
If
you’re thinking you might be addicted, I made a little of list of things to
clue you in:
You know you’re hooked on soft
drinks when…
·
you list Dr. Pepper as
your personal physician.
·
you’re tempted to take
a swig from the can you left in the car -- last Thursday.
·
you have soft drink can
indentations on your upper lip.
·
the caffeine buzz has
you answering the phone -- and it’s not ringing.
·
someone asks you if you
have a significant other and you answer, “Mr. Pibb.”
·
you consider a cola
bean a protein -- and you put yourself on a high-protein diet.
·
you think the surge
protector on your computer is soda-related.
·
the can recycling plant
asks if they can set up a branch office in your garage.
· you spell physics with an “f” and assume it’s a study of soda bubbles.
I
sometimes worry that I have a touch of sodapop-aholism. Do you think I could pass it on to my
children? There really are better things
to pass along to the next generation. My
goal is to have something worthwhile to show the younger generation (not
necessarily a reference to “You Got the Right One, Baby, Uh
Huh -- Choice of a New Generation”).
Psalm 78:4-7 in The Message says “We’re
not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it along to the next generation --
God’s fame and fortune, the
marvelous things He has done. He planted
a witness in Jacob, set His Word firmly in Israel, Then commanded our parents to
teach it to their children so the next generation would know, and all the
generations to come -- Know the truth and tell the stories so their children
can trust in God, never forget the works of God but keep His commands to the
letter.”
To
follow these instructions to know the truth and tell the stories to future
generations, we have to learn it, study it, make it part of our lives. If our children have all the cartoon
character stats down pat, but don’t have much trust in God, that’s a cue for us
to start telling them more energetically about God’s fame and fortune -- the
marvelous things He has done. Instead of
being hooked on sci-fi, we need to help them learn to be hooked on Jesus. Instead of being hooked on soft drinks, we
need to show them by our example how to be hooked on and completely connected
to the instruction we find in His Word.
As
for me and soft drinks, when I started thinking it was about time to join the
local Soda-holics
Anonymous chapter, I switched to iced tea.
I
would write more, but I have some things I need to teach my children. Besides, I really need my iced tea.
Rhonda Rhea juggles her writing and speaking
ministries around chasing her five children and running to keep up with her
husband, Richie, pastor of