Have you ever noticed the amount of sugar in most of our food; especially processed foods? Wow! Candy, cookies, sodas, flavored coffees, donuts, ice cream, jams, desserts of all kinds, milk shakes, etc. There are also sugars of different kinds that are hidden in things like in fruit, carbohydrates, protein bars and drinks, cereal, salad dressings, soups, and so on. For heaven’s sake, they even have maple-flavored bacon!
This is not good news for the 29 million diabetics in America who struggle to control their disease. Doctors who specialize in the treatment of Diabetes are booked months in advance and hospitals are kept busy with specialized surgeries and treatments as well.
How did we get so far down this sugar path in our country?! I am not a sweet-tooth, but I am indeed a diabetic. I look at labels to determine if it is something I should eat, and even though I may indulge occasionally, I usually try to keep sugar at a minimum. A good example of this when I went out with several friends for dinner and we bought a large piece of chocolate layer cake. I cut them all slivers of it, boxed the other half to take home to my Ivan, and I ate the berries on the plate. No worries.
When I think about sugar, I think about what comes out of our mouths each day. Do we speak with “sugar” or do we speak poisonous words? Are we encouraging or discouraging? Do our words build others up or tear them down?
Maybe we were born into a family that was toxic and spoke poisonous words on a daily basis. Yelling, swearing, calling names, putting others down, etc. may have been the pattern in your family as a kid. Have you continued that pattern or broken it in your own relationships now? Hmmmmmm
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Prov.16:24
“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Ps. 141:3
Take some time to evaluate how you speak to those you say you love. How harsh are your words to your spouse, children, or extended family members? How about those you don’t know, like the guy that cuts you off on the freeway or blatantly takes the parking spot you were waiting for?
Words spoken with a critical spirit or nasty gossip is like poison oozing out of our mouths. How about what our moms taught us…”If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Can’t you hear her now?
“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14
This week on Chained No More Talk Radio, our expert guest will be Rick Johnson, the founder of Better Dads ministries. His topic will be “The Effects of Toxic Parenting”, something that is prevalent and increasing in our society today. Please join us on Tuesday, July 19 at 2pm ET at www.toginet.com. You can download the podcast later that day at www.toginet.com/shows/chainednomore.
Now, before another day goes by, let’s look at what comes out of our mouth. Is it sugar or poison? Try to make the necessary changes and apologize if needed. It’s a new day! We have a choice….living a life of sugar or sugar free. Get it?