“WHEN YOU SAY ‘YES’ TO WINE, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ‘NO’ TO?” (Hint. It might be your purpose.)”

I started to think recently about all the things that I was saying no to when I was saying yes to wine.

When I said yes to wine I said no to …

Being a fully present mom.

Bedtime stories.

Extra cuddle time with the kids.

Meaningful conversations.

Deep connection.

Reading my Bible.

Church.

A good night sleep.

Anything after 5PM

Anything before 9 ?? 10 AM ?

As always, I don't say these things to shame. I say them to empower you to think about what you're saying no to when you say yes to alcohol.

I don't know if it's because I'm turning 40 this year, or because now my husband and I have both lost a parent, but the truth really has hit home that life is short here on earth. We get a certain number of days, and I want to make those days count. Don't you?

I never thought about things like purpose and legacy before when I was drinking. I thought the whole "here for a good time, not a long time" thing was spot on. But God doesn't promise us a good time or an easy time on earth. (He promised us eternity instead.) And yet we've been conditioned to believe that any time we don't feel 100% (because we're uncomfortable or stressed or sad) we deserve a drink to feel better.

But we're not supposed to feel great all the time. We're supposed to go be hurt so we can learn to forgive. We're supposed to grieve to learn what love really means. We're supposed to be anxious so we can learn how to trust.

Can I encourage you today my friend? The moment you start saying yes to all those things you're currently saying no to - because you'd rather be drinking- that's the minute everything changes. That's when God starts showing you what you're here to do!

Can you relate?

Are you ready to start saying YES?