Mom, Christopher said I always tell on him! No, I didn’t say that, but it’s true anyway! You always say always and it’s not always true! Madeline, you stay out of it. Stop hitting me with the towel! Katherine, you’re such a snitch. MOM!!!! It was one of those days. Well to be fair it was just one of those car rides. It was time to run errands and I needed each child for at least one of the errands so . . . off we went. Do you ever get the feeling that your children are spending a little too much time together during the summer?
It really had been a good day so far. Thankfully I had been up early to squeeze in a brisk walk and some time with Jesus. I walked and walked, praised Him for who He is, asked Him questions, and thanked Him for His answers. He walked beside me, encouraged me with the words to my favorite songs, and renewed my mind with verses that spoke perfect truth to my soul. I asked him, “What is your truth for me, Lord?” as I so often do. He is never impatient and understands that I forget and need to be reminded often . . . He has been human before, and He knows. What an amazing joy it is to know that my Savior is walking with me every minute of every day – even when I am having one of “those” car rides!!!
I stopped at a red light and the kids suddenly fell silent. Hey Mom – there’s a donut shop! Can we get donuts today? Pleeeeeeaaasssee? We haven’t had donuts in soooooo long. Look, it’s open! Come on, Mom, please????? I drove on, prepared my “firm mom voice”, and replied that I wasn’t ready to say yes to a single request until there were kind words being spoken and apologizing going on in the car. Well, two of the kids said “I’m sorry!” just as fast as you can imagine, but Katherine crossed her arms, crossed her legs, stuck her lip out as far as it would go and said “I don’t even want a donut!!!”
While the other two were trying their best to convince her that she really did want one and she just needed to apologize and get over it, I was thinking to myself – wait a minute – if there is anyone around here who deserves a donut, it’s ME! Here I am, schlepping these kids around in the car, taking care of everyone’s needs but my own. Are any of these errands for me? No! I started thinking about what kind of donut I might really deserve – maybe a chocolate old fashioned? Oh yes – those are my favorite. How about a chocolate with sprinkles? Maybe . . . or a nice, chocolate supreme with filling – I am noticing a theme here, are you? At that point there was a little, annoying question floating around in my brain. Are you hungry, Christina? I swatted the thought away like a fly and pulled into the donut shop. The kids had stopped fighting and all three of them had apologized and come around at this point. Why not? We hadn’t had donuts in what seemed like forever. And anyway, I deserved one for being a mom of three very loveable, but crabby kids!
It turns out that this donut shop had only been in business for a short time, and boy did we hit the jackpot. Our mouths dropped open and our eyes grew wide as we looked at the assortment of mouthwatering donuts. There were fruit loop donuts, candy bar donuts, waffle donuts, chocolate chip donuts – even bacon donuts! It was then that we decided to get a dozen and share them later with friends that were going to be coming over. Christina . . . are you hungry? What is your heart hungry for? I can satisfy your every need. What do you need right now?
Now I have to mention here, that I have been working my way through Barb Raveling’s book I Deserve A Donut and Other Lies That Make You Eat for several months now. It is perfectly simple, goes along beautifully with Thin Within principles, and best of all is a powerful source of God’s truth. On my work days I would get up early, while the whole house was asleep, and pray through the questions of a page as I got ready for the day. On my days off I would take walks with Jesus, mulling the questions over in my mind with Him, desperately asking Him to please, please renew my mind, restore my soul, change me from the inside so that I would not be mastered by food and body image issues anymore. It was just a few months ago when I really hit that wall – the wall that marks the point where you just can’t live life the same way another minute. I cried out to my Lord and Savior, and He heard me in a big way. In Barb Raveling’s book under the Entitlement Eating section she writes: “When we hold food with tightly clenched fists and say it’s our right to eat, we’re basically saying, ‘I deserve this, God, and I’m not willing to give it up. God says, ‘That food will never make you happy. Come to Me, and I’ll give you the abundant life.’” Hmmmmm . . . now that’s food for thought. 🙂
So here I was, standing in front of a hundred or so of some of the most amazing donuts I had ever seen . . . and these questions were going through my mind. Jesus was with me, here in the donut shop! Of course He was. He has promised never to leave me. I felt so close to Him in that moment that I half expected Him to walk out of the back area with an apron on and a fresh sheet of donuts in His hand, smiling all the way – and perhaps a wink, just for me. Then . . . this is my favorite part of the story . . . a man did walk out of the back area, but he wasn’t carrying a tray of donuts. In his hand was an empty box ready to house a dozen donuts, and on the front of the box, in large letters it said, “YOU DESERVE A DONUT!” Oh my goodness! I started laughing out loud and I’m sure no one knew why. But I knew, and Jesus knew – and it was such a fun moment between Him and I.
The kids picked out their favorites, I picked out mine and we filled up that box, quick as a wink. When we got home I smiled at God, took out my favorite chocolate old fashioned, and put it in a baggie to save for when I felt true hunger. Just one and a half hours later I was at a zero and ready to thoroughly enjoy my donut. It was delicious. God is so good! I continue to be amazed every time I catch a glimpse of how intimately involved He is in my life. Do you believe that He loves you that much? He does!!!
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these things (even donuts!) will be added to you.”
Phillipians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those that are called according to His purpose.”
How about you? Do you believe that God is intimately involved in your life, even inside of a donut shop? Do you sometimes feel entitled to have a certain food at a certain time when you are really trying to satisfy an emotional or spiritual need? God wants nothing more than a real, authentic relationship with you. He can’t wait for you to run to Him for your every need. What is He whispering to your heart today?
Beautifully written! I love how God is concerned with every detail of our lives, and I love how He will not withhold any good thing from us if we do things His way. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Allison! I am so grateful for the special moments I have with Jesus. The more I look for Him, the more I find Him! God is soooooo good! 🙂
Christina,
What fun it was to read your post….also, soooooooooooo colorful. ( oh, the beeeuuutiful colors of temptation.) And yet… within God’s boundaries (His will for us) ….even these scrumptious “tasties” are “lawful for us”. (1Corin 6:12). You handled this “test” (James 1:2-3) as a victorious princess, who held those donuts with open hands, and bowed to your love for God, over the pull of your flesh!
And oh, the faithfulness of His Spirit…..reminding you of His love for you; your true need for Him; and that ‘only He could satisfy’…….. Good- on- you!
I was recently in Las Vegas visiting family. Late one evening, my son said, “Let’s go get donuts!” I didn’t ‘swat that suggestion away like a fly!’
We went….we purchased….I CONSUMED….. and consumed……You get the idea…
‘I took my favorite chocolate old fashioned, and put it in a baggie.’ ‘…therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and ACTS ON THEM, may be compared to a wise (woman), who built her house on the ROCK.’ (Matt 7:24)
Your post was revealing, authentic, visually pretty, and encouragingly…convicting. I don’t know that it would have ever occurred to me to put a donut in a baggie…for LATER. (His thoughts are indeed ABOVE our thoughts..(.Isaiah 55:8-9)
God is Our Privilege and Provision….. So is the Body of Christ! Thank you for your post.
Hi Luann! Wow – thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments. I love it! I’m not sure about being a victorious princess, but why not? I’ll take it! Your comments are such an encouragement to me to keep on keeping on. I just love meeting Jesus in the most interesting places. He is always with us! Praying for you, that you will know Christ’s power in surprising places as well! 🙂
This was wonderful! I needed for sure! The nudges for me were these things:
-Are you hungry, Christina? I swatted the thought away like a fly and pulled into the donut shop. (Yep I do this)
– . . . are you hungry? What is your heart hungry for? I can satisfy your every need. What do you need right now?
– it was such a fun moment between Him and I. (I love these moments and forgot how he is in every single detail if we pay attention He is there and so cares!)
-put it in a baggie to save for when I felt true hunger. (The reminder I needed. I rationalize and think if I want it I should get it, now, but wow the rewards and the sweet fellowship and peace that comes when I wait)
Off to wait for hunger! Thanks for your encouragement in Him :0)
Hi Kim! Thank you for your lovely comments. I am so thankful that God spoke to you through this goofy story! You are an encouragement to me and I so appreciate it. Yes, off to wait for hunger – me too! Praying for you now, that God would continue those personal nudges! 🙂
A funny story; God has such a sense of humor. You passed the test and obeyed what you felt you were supposed to do! Praise the Lord and bravo to you!
Hi Fran! Thank you for your encouraging words. I am so thankful that even if though I don’t always obey perfectly, God is good and meets me wherever I am. I love that! Praying for you, for surprising connections with our loving God! 🙂
That was such a wonderful story, Christina – and so funny. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor? 🙂
Ha ha! I was so hoping you would read this story. God has used your writing in a powerful way in my life, Barb. I just can’t get those darn questions out of my head! Lol! I am so thankful for you. Oh man, am I hungry this morning . . . for Christ! 🙂
This was so great, Christina! I have lost quite a bit of weight, but over the summer had sort of “fallen off the wagon”. My sister and her husband flew out from back east and we all took a road trip along the Pacific Northwest coast. I did most of the driving and my sister sat up front & the husbands were in the back. She and I would get the munchies, and at times her husband would comment on our eating. We would tell him, in unison, “We’re on vacation!” Like that made it okay to eat whatever, whenever. Your post reminded me that God cares about what I eat, even on vacation, even on busy days, and even on my grumpy bad days. I am refocusing again on my relationship with God and food. In fact, I think I will take a walk and have that alone time with Him. Thank you for all the encouragement you gave me!
Hi Mary Anne! I am so glad God spoke to you through this post. It truly is amazing how much better everything tastes when you wait for God, feed your soul with what it needs, and eat those yummy munchy foods at a zero. God is teaching me so much every day. Praying for you, that you will meet Jesus on many special prayer walks and refocus your heart hunger on Christ! 🙂
Amen about Barb’s book/app!! I love the part about how you bought the donuts and then waited until you were truly hungry to enjoy! Praise God!
Thanks so much, Christina! It’s those little victories that really add up, don’t you think? I am so grateful for all that God is doing in my heart on this journey. Praying for your journey, Christina, that you are feeling His presence more and more deeply! 🙂