What in the world does Josh Hamilton and cereal have in common? As many of you know, last week it was reported and later confirmed by Josh that he relapsed and drank alcohol. (Side Note: So impressed at how the body of Christ has responded to Josh. Check out this article and this one as well as this one to see.) Josh has struggled with addiction for many years and had even lost everything until he cried out to Jesus. Check out his testimony. So back to the original question….what does Josh and cereal have in common? I have an addiction, too, and it is cereal! Well, really, it could be just about any carb but when I am at the Jenkins home cereal seems to call my name. I made Bowdie and Andrea crack up the other night when I texted them while babysitting the boys, “I am going to bed early partly because I am tired but also so that I will quit eating.” Just like Josh it is a daily struggle for me to not feed my addiction. Pun intended.

However, unlike Josh I cannot “cold turkey” or simply quit going to grocery stores. I have to eat to live….the problem is too often I live to eat. Another difference is that if I give into the addiction I am usually only hurting myself unlike Josh who may hurt others if he chooses to get behind the wheel of a car.

The verse that has really rolled around in my head lately is 2 Corinthians 10:4 – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. God has not chosen to just deliver me instantaneously from this addiction but I do have at my disposal weapons that can destroy strongholds - anything that has a strong hold on me.

Unfortunately, I do not always use the weapons available which takes me back to the cereal…Tuesday afternoon I was watching the boys because Andrea was helping with the funeral of an amazing man of God. I wanted (read lusted for) a bowl of cereal but was not hungry (this would be sin for me.) I had just poured the milk over the frosted shredded wheat and there was a knock on the door. “Aunt Becky, Blaine needs you! He is hurt.” I run out the door and see Blaine crying on the trampoline. I carried him into the house and laid him on the sofa to get an icepack on the (now we know) broken foot. As I sat with him, my cereal was growing soggier and soggier. By the time he was calmed down enough for me to get up, my cereal was yucky! I am grateful that 1 Corinthians 10:13 is true as well!

So I am throwing no stones at Josh but rather rejoicing that as quickly as he fell off the wagon he is back on again and praying that when I make unhealthy food choices or choose to over eat that I get back on track just as quickly.

What about you? Do you have any addictions that you struggle with? By the way, I had cereal yesterday morning for breakfast and only ate one cup!