Dr. Pepper Update

It has been exactly 15 days since I had my last Dr. Pepper. I am surprised at how easy it has been to stay away from it. Generally, when I have gone on "No Dr. Pepper" kicks, I crave it and I usually cave in after just a week or so. I wouldn't drink water (or much of anything else for that matter) while I was depriving myself of my favorite beverage.

This time has been completely different. I attribute that to the fact that I wasn't trying to change myself because that never works but I am allowing the Lord to change me. When I go to the grocery store and walk towards the soft drink aisle, I ask the Lord to help me. When I see a fast food commercial on T.V., I ask Him to take away those cravings. He has answered those prayers and then some.

Let me take you back to July 25, 1997. I was involved in a car accident that left me with a little bit of whiplash and torn muscles in my back. My back has not been the same since that day. Fast forward to November 5, 2006. I broke my left ankle while carrying my then three month old baby girl down some stairs (I missed the bottom one). I had surgery to repair my ankle five days later. My ankle has not been the same since that day. I now have two bulging disks in my spine as well as scoliosis. I experience referred pain in my hip and knee on a fairly regular basis. I also have arthritis in my ankle which hurts 95% of the time. At times, the pain in my body makes me seriously wonder how I am going to get around when I reach my 70s, 80s, and 90s if the Lord allows me that much time.

Recently, I began experiencing a great deal of pain in my back, hip, and knee and felt the need to see a doctor at my husband's persistence. My doctor referred me to an orthopedic clinic where I was told I am a good candidate for injections. I am not afraid of needles but I do not want to begin to go down that road. What to do? Physical therapy has helped me in the past but we do not have the finances for that. "Lord, what am I supposed to do," was my prayer as if I am able to fix my own problems.

On Tuesday, July 31, 2012, I woke up with the resolve to surrender all I am, all I want, and all I have to the Lord... that included Dr. Pepper. I made the choice to begin drinking water which I rarely ever did prior to that day. I had a headache that day and it would have been so easy to go into the garage and get a Dr. Pepper but I drank my water instead. After about a week of no Dr. Pepper and lots of water, I began noticing something. My back was not hurting as much. My hip and knee were not hurting at all. My ankle still hurt but that, I can live with. The Lord reminded me of something I had learned a long time ago... water lubricates your joints and the disk spaces in your spine. I had been putting harmful things into my body and those toxins were just weakening it. The water I have been drinking has been cleansing my body and providing some much needed lubrication. Praise the Lord! Now, when I start hurting, I drink my water.

As an added bonus, I am no longer craving fast food or chocolate and I was able to eat Little Caesar's pizza last night without getting sick (I have not been able to do that in a long time). I actually crave healthy food and have discovered a new love for yogurt. Why didn't I think of this before? Drink water!

I cannot help but praise the Lord for changing my heart and helping me to surrender to Him so that the next time my husband goes on a mission trip, I do not have to miss out because my body cannot handle it. I do not want to be a hindrance to my husband's ministry and I certainly want to be used of the Lord. I have been asking Him daily to show me other areas that I need to surrender to Him so that I can be used in His service for His glory. I challenge you to do the same.