Green Tea... and Thoughts on Gagging

I try to drink the recommended amount of water each day.  Try. But I get really, really sick of water.  Sometimes it even makes me gag.  Literally. And we have "good" water, not the brackish stuff that many people have in this general area.

Since I'm trying to kick the diet soda habit, I can't even turn to that for an occasional break so I decided to start drinking a glass or two of unsweetened green tea each day in place of a glass or two of water.  And to add an illusion of sweetness, I mix in a little peppermint.  Perfect!

The tea was just the thing I was looking for to easily and healthily solve my problem.  I was perfectly content with it and could have happily replaced all my water with it.  It was refreshing and guilt-free!

Then it happened.  A doctor's visit.  My blood pressure was high.  Now I have 2 months to lower it without medication before they start pushing pills at me.  I don't want to start down THAT road anytime soon!  Among the things suggested to help naturally reduce my pressure is to limit my caffeine.  So I had a choice... give up the green tea (it has a fairly low caffeine level but it does add up!) or give up my morning coffee.

Now you have to understand,  I really, really enjoy my morning coffee.  Seriously!  My husband is forbidden to speak to me until I've had at least 2 sips.  Well, if he were bleeding profusely or the house were on fire I'd make an exception but other than that, no! (I slightly jest.  See my post about morning coffee HERE.)

What to do, what to do?  Well, since I was enjoying my green tea so much I decided to go with having a glass of it in the morning rather than a cup of coffee.  I knew it wouldn't be the same as coffee but figured it wouldn't be too much of an adjustment since I really, really liked the green tea, too.

I figured wrong. 

The tea that had been great when it was replacing a beverage that I didn't really want to drink anyway (the water) but when it replaced something I was so attached to, something that I just didn't want to give up, I became so unsatisfied with my tea that I found it disgusting.   It made me gag!  And then I got mad at my husband because he got to drink coffee and I had to smell it... and hear him sipping it!  I felt pretty sorry for myself.   So the very same thing that had been such a relief to me had now become a source of disdain.   

As a friend of mine would say "Sounds like a Bible lesson to me!"

We are so relieved, so refreshed by the promises in God's Word when we hear the good news.  We are so strengthened to know that by the power of God we are able to overcome some of our less-than-desirable character flaws.  And to know that we don't have to be eternally punished for the weaknesses that constantly plague us?  That's good stuff right there!

But then God starts messing with the things that we really, really desire.  Things that we really, really want to do, or affirm, or possess.  We don't find that stuff quite so refreshing.  Let's face it, some of His expectations are difficult to chew, let alone swallow, and they sometimes make us "gag".    And this is where the true test of our resolve (a.k.a. faith) comes into play.  Will we believe God in ALL things or will we believe only the bits about God that are easy, hoping the really tough stuff will be overlooked?

This morning I drank my green tea with a cheerful and grateful attitude, and jokingly asked my husband to refrain from looking like he was enjoying his coffee so much.  He complied by saying "This coffee is just horrible!"  The ornery grin he had on his face implied otherwise. Because I adjusted my attitude this was the first morning I didn't gag on my tea and my husband and I had a very pleasant conversation before he left for work.  But I know the real test of my resolve is yet to come.  What, then, will I choose?

Just as a final thought that occurred to me as I wrote this... Apparently, Jesus gags, too.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.  Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
--Revelation 3:15-19 (emphasis mine)