Breaking Matt - Part 3

I am so tired of drinking those stupid NutriMed Supplement shakes. I am drinking them at breakfast, morning snack, lunch and evening snacks. Four times a day I have to drink those stupid shakes. I would love to just have even a piece of toast for breakfast! I'm so stinking hungry (I could use better adjectives here, but evidently some people are actually reading this blog) right now and the last thing I want to do is down another stupid shake. I hate them. I loathe them. I want to burn all of the little white packets of mix in the world. But, I have to do it, and here is why.

One of the things I learned from our experience with Abbie's surgery is that when you ask the Lord for help and he answers your prayer, you have to hold up your end of the bargain. We are so grateful to God for the Cincinnatii Children's Hospital and their amazing doctors, nurses and staff. Without a doubt they were an answer to prayer. But it is a bit annoying making the eight hour round trip drive for a 20 minute check up. However, this is part of the answered prayer. We have to do the hard stuff - drives, therapy, stretching, etc. - in order to see the fruits of God. He has promised to do his part - healing, leading, safety, etc. - and we must do our part. God did not promise Abbie's surgery and recovery would be easy, but he did promise healing and to be with us. The same is true with breaking me down and this diet.

God has never promised me this diet would be easy, but he has promised a way for me to get through it. The stupid shakes are one of the ways. While they are not enjoyable, they are what I "need" nutritionally to get through this. I have a few choices: (1) I could give up because it is too hard, (2) I could cheat and give in to temptations, and no one would really blame me, (3) I could complain and make the whole process more difficult on myself, my family and those at work or (4) I can lament to God, seek his strength and trust that he will get me through these little down moments of the journey. Obviously choice 4 is what I should do and am going to do at this time. But don't think the other 3 are not more tempting. So, I will go and make another stupid strawberry shake and drink it. Then at lunch time I will make another and drink that. God will give me the strength to make the right choice.

Bottoms up!