We often find ourselves craving something to quench our thirst usually at meal times, or even after a hard workout, however, we crave water more times than these instances. On simple terms when water quenches our thirst we are happy, that is until our mouths dry up again.
So what is it that you go to for this temporary happiness? Is it the bottle of liquor you have in the cabinet? Or...maybe a cigarette to relieve the stress? For me its neither of these; I value you both my lungs and my liver to much. Instead I look towards praise from my peers and even strangers. I often times find my working hard to be acknowledged by anybody who is around. Whether its do something extra on a group project, or walking an old lady across the street when I know someone might be watching me. To hear the words, "Man that's awesome," or even "You're doing a great job, keep it up," is like giving a kid a lollipop. (It's a little ironic that I say this, because for those who really know me can attest to the fact that I am probably one of the shyest person you'll meet.) In all reality these phrases probably make everyone happy, who doesn't like a pat on the back every now and again, but the thing is the happy feeling will always go away at sometime and then you have to start all over again.
If we really truly want to quench our thirst we have to look towards Jesus Christ. The answer is in John 4:13 when Jesus is talking to the Samaritan Woman by the well, "Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indded, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
So the next time you need to relieve stress, or are just looking for some sort of happiness, don't reach out to a bottle, or a cigarette, or even another person. Just open up your Bible or simply just talk with the Lord, he likes to listen to our stories.
I'd like to live you all with a quote from my Bible study partner, Felicia (she's the girl I'm dancing with) , "Did you know they sell happiness at Starbucks? It's amazing,...but it's only temporary."
Dream Big, Run Hard
-Rico
