Too Much Ice Cream???

In my life on this earth, I would say I have had more than my share of ice cream! The possibilities seem endless and the satisfaction is soothing to my senses. Chocolate dipped in chocolate at Dairy Queen, Mint Chocolate Chip at Baskin Robbins, gelato on every corner in Italy, a Dark Chocolate Dove Bar everyday one summer, milkshakes after dinner every night, and even 12 ice cream sandwiches for dessert on a dare from my brother-in-law. These thoughts are beautiful in my mind and comforting in my memories. There is just something about ice cream! Truly, I love it!! What's not to love!!

Well, this love affair with ice cream went on from when I can remember until about ten days after my thirty sixth birthday! And then something terrible happened! I noticed my pants becoming tighter! And, with awe and shock, I saw a direct correlation between the tightness of my pants and the amounts of ice cream I was consuming! This was a shock and when I complained about these changes to the ones I love the most, they answered with a resounding; "Maybe you should not eat so much ice cream!" I promise you this was not the answer I wanted. I would have preferred to hear; "Maybe you could cut out the other food, but don't stop eating ice cream!"

This has been a ten-year struggle for me. Maybe some of you can relate. Sometimes the struggle gets under control, but other times it becomes ridiculous. I find it interesting how I can justify to myself in the strangest ways to eat some ice cream if I want it. Lately, I have been buying Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches. This is hilarious! Have you ever seen a skinny cow? I haven't. Because these are made to be lower in calories, I have a hard time only eating one at a time. I justify eating two or more because they are lower in fat and calories! I even ate two the other day at lunch time, telling myself they were "sandwiches" so it was ok. In Jeremiah 17:9, it says; "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This really explained it all for me in the moments after I came out of the; "I want ice cream" fog and into reality! I actually laughed out loud at myself.

There is another scripture which came to mind from Romans 7:15 which says; "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do." Why do I hate this action I take? Because it causes me to feel uncomfortable with myself. I hate doing it, because I grow into a size I was not created to be. My heart deceives me into getting what I want in the moment, but I end up regretting it later. I end up saying to myself; "It was not worth it!!" I want to be wise and moderate and healthy! I want to feel good and be the best I can be!!

So today, I thank God for all of the years He gave me to eat as much ice cream as I wanted and see no effects! But today, I have to come to terms with the reality of my metabolism and practice the 9th fruit of the Spirit which is self-control. (Galatians 5:22) I don't know what it is for you, but I know as long as I am on earth I will struggle with my flesh. What I want is not always what is best for me! In all of these areas of struggle, I know Jesus is there for me to cry out to for comfort and self-control.

And He has gone ahead of me to prepare a place for me! (John 14:2) I bet in heaven, there are many more flavors of ice cream than I have ever tasted! Probably a endless variety of shops on every corner of the streets of gold. Until then I will cling tightly to Jesus and ask Him to help me to not eat too much ice cream!