Addicted to Jesus

“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah 2:8

Alyssa...1996

When Alyssa was little she had a desperate addiction to her binky…or should I say “binkies”. It began the day after she was born, and continued on until her 3rd birthday, as I mentioned in my blog on Saturday.

Often Alyssa would have more than one binky in her possession at any one time, and they were even named. There was “cow binky”, “train binky”, and “pink binky” and one of them was always close by. The comfort they gave when she was tired or hurt is immeasurable, and breaking the addiction was long and torturous. For her, and for me!

So, after several different attempts, I came up with an idea to make the separation a little easier.  Or at least I hoped it would.  I put together a "Binky Going Away Party" and Alyssa's friends came over to help us "celebrate".  We had Hostess cupcakes, juice, and if I remember right, balloons.  (I wish I could find the pictures I took.)  Anyway, we decorated a box, put all the binkies inside it, and wrapped it up.  Hand-in-hand we all walked to the mailbox to "send it to some other baby who really needed those binkies". 

It was so much fun, and worked like a charm, until bedtime hit!  Luckily I had asked my friend to drive by the mailbox, after she and her kids left the party, and pick up the package and take it home with her.  Otherwise, I might have been tempted to open it and give them back.  It only took three nights of crying for Alyssa to finally understand that there were no more binkies. 


I pray that the binky addictions, are the worst kind of addiction our children ever face(cause Kyle, too, had a binky fetish)  I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't appreciate their mom throwing another going away party, with friends, now that they are older. 

May their only addiction be Jesus Christ!!

Lord, help Alyssa and Kyle to never cling to worthless idols in their lives, and forfeit the grace that can be theirs.  You alone can fill all of their needs and the empty spaces of their hearts, yet sometimes it's easy to look to other things to replace what only you can fill.  Where they need to feel love, peace, comfort, and pleasure, may they look to you alone. I pray that thy never grab onto anything that is harmful in their lives, and expect it to bring happiness. Protect Alyssa and Kyle from the pressure of smoking, drinking, drugs, pornography, gambling…all those things that can easily become dangerous addictions, and cause harm in their lives. When/if they are tempted, may you give them the power to say “no”, and stand against the devil's schemes.  Thank you, Lord, for being the One that gives us life abundant.