When we were small, we would go to the corner store to buy groceries and occasionally my mom would let us buy a carton of 6 eight-ounce bottles of pop. Mom usually wanted Seven-up, but we kids got all kinds. There were four of us, counting Mom, so there would be 2 left over to drink later. We kids guzzled our 8 ounces down and then begged Mom until she finally let us drink the rest of her pop. She seldom got the whole bottle to herself.
If one of the neighbor kids came while we were drinking our pop, we had to share, so we usually timed our drinking for when we were sure no one would come over. But my best friend from next door frequently came over and we shared everything with her—soda pop, snacks, hair spray, nail polish. She was just like a sister to us. In fact, once she took a swig out of my pop bottle and swallowed the gum I had dropped down inside to “keep it fresh.”
I remember the Monday after I got married. My hubby went off to work and I went to the grocery store. I remember the pride I felt in being a grown-up and buying the makings for my first meal. And buying 2 six-packs of Pepsi.
Soda pop changed an entire generation. I have to force myself to drink water. I seldom drink milk or juice. I always reach for a bottle of pop.
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O Lord. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Psalms 42:1-2NIV. The deer naturally longs for water, pants for water.
How long has it been since I was thirsty enough to want water? Pop doesn’t satisfy the thirst, that panting thirst, like water does, but I never let myself get thirsty. So this is another lesson on nutrition from the Lord; a practical lesson that I seriously need to learn.
My soul thirsts for God. My body thirsts for water.