Prodial: I really want about five different cookies.
Me: Should you eat that many cookies.
I walk in through the two doors. I have been here plenty of times in the past. It is a regular stand alone building with the red sign.
So have many of you have walked where I have walked. I am going into Chick-fil-A. I need a quick lunch, and some nourishment. I walk up to the counter, and I already know what I want. I want the chicken tortilla soup. I love that it is not too spicy, but has enough spice to give it some extra flavor. I will also have their lemonade to go with it.
I briefly see their chocolate chip cookie on display. My sweet tooth is crying out briefly to indulge in the treat.
What will I do?
Life is about balance, we fail miserable at balance. I look around, with eyes of compassion. Some orders are on the verge of a binge meal. Some orders barely seem to have any food on the plate. Some people are happy, and others have a face of despair.
Balance means several components must be involved. Our lives are not just about out wants. We have a body, mind, and spirit. We were made to respect our body, mind, and spirit. We also were made to encourage growth physically, mentally and spiritually.
An out of balance life means that we may try to make up with excess in one area that may be lacking. We can focus on our body so much that our mental growth has diminished. We can focus on the mental aspect of our lives that our physically body is lacking during the check up.
But many of us ignore the empty hole that calls out to us to figure out our spiritual side. We try to ignore there is a God.
If our bodies look perfect, if we are perfectly happy, why do people still feel empty?
You have neglected your spiritual side. It if not enough to know if there is a God. You have to have a relationship with God.
Balance will begin. With relationship, with our bodies our minds, and with God.
We begin to not hate ourselves if two pounds were gained. We have balance.
We begin to not hate ourselves if someone in the office is so much smarter than us. We have balance.
We begin to not hate ourselves when people think we hate others because we believe in God. We have balance in a relationship with God.
That cookie is still calling out to me. Yes, but balance.
I have plans to eat dessert at home tomorrow. I need balance. I need to say no to indulgences. Indulgences will not make me happy, but balance in all areas of my life will.
I have no problems saying no, because I will be saying yes at other times.
I have no problems saying no because I don’t have something in my life that is completely empty.
At the end of the day with all my choices good and bad. I know I am loved by God who created me. I also know that with all your choices today good and bad, you are loved by God too.
Even if tomorrow I choose the cookie, I am still loved, and so are you.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
MARK 4 : 9
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
