Like many of you, perhaps, I am in somewhat of a predicament. Here we are, barely a week beyond Thanksgiving with three weeks still to go before Christmas, and I am now in a fix. Let’s just say I have already surpassed my total caloric intake allotment for the entire five week period by the middle of week two. I know this is so because my clothes (and especially my belts) do not lie!
I guess I could argue that it is not my fault. After all, the food just keeps coming and coming – wave after wave. I thought I was doing my best to resist; but I do not know how much longer I can hold out! It appears that the battle may be getting away from me. So, pray for me, as I will you, that together we can survive this terrible onslaught on our waistlines. May we all have the will power to resist; and may we come out on the other side still standing.
To give a little encouragement in the struggle, I thought I would post the following little ditty. I hope it helps us both as we sing it, especially in the heat of battle.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF FAST FOOD
On the first day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
A Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the second day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the third day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Eleven pounds of blubber,
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Twelve bags of Pepto,
Eleven pounds of blubber,
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with Cheese*
Seriously, enjoy the season. Food is a part of it; and besides, we can all exercise come January! But also be mindful, as I am trying to do, that we really are blessed beyond compare. It is arguable that a fair portion of the world could subsist off of what we throw out each day. And this is probably multiplied during the holiday season.
In light of this, maybe the fact that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas is a good thing. Maybe we should all first be appreciative for what we have before we begin to focus on what all else we want and then head full force into consumption mode.
After all, most of us are fairly well fed, well dressed, and generally well off. By comparison, as I read the Bible, I am reminded that the Disciples had no security, Mary and Joseph had no room, and Jesus Himself had no pillow on which to lay His head. I am also mindful that, even today, there are many others who are still lacking.
If the holidays (and especially Christmas) are about anything, then surely they are about doing for others. God did for us. And He expects us to for others in turn. So, enjoy the bounty He provides. But make certain that you find ways to share it with others along the way. In short, consume away - be it food, fun, presents, attention, or whatever. Just be sure you produce something as you do.
For, surely, what we give, rather than what we get, is the true measure of our Christlikeness. It has to be; for Christmas itself is proof positive that Jesus meant it when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Perhaps these words of the Apostle Paul in his New Testament letter to the Philippian Christians (2:1-11) say it best:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen!
*SOURCE: http://www.ahajokes.com/sea05.html.
I guess I could argue that it is not my fault. After all, the food just keeps coming and coming – wave after wave. I thought I was doing my best to resist; but I do not know how much longer I can hold out! It appears that the battle may be getting away from me. So, pray for me, as I will you, that together we can survive this terrible onslaught on our waistlines. May we all have the will power to resist; and may we come out on the other side still standing.
To give a little encouragement in the struggle, I thought I would post the following little ditty. I hope it helps us both as we sing it, especially in the heat of battle.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF FAST FOOD
On the first day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
A Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the second day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the third day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Eleven pounds of blubber,
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with cheese.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My drive through gave to me:
Twelve bags of Pepto,
Eleven pounds of blubber,
Ten baked potatoes,
Nine Polish hot dogs,
Eight bowls of chili,
Seven pints of cole slaw,
Six chocolate milkshakes,
Five onion rings,
Four Egg McMuffins,
Three Biggie Fries,
Two Happy Meals,
And a Big Bacon Classic with Cheese*
Seriously, enjoy the season. Food is a part of it; and besides, we can all exercise come January! But also be mindful, as I am trying to do, that we really are blessed beyond compare. It is arguable that a fair portion of the world could subsist off of what we throw out each day. And this is probably multiplied during the holiday season.
In light of this, maybe the fact that Thanksgiving comes before Christmas is a good thing. Maybe we should all first be appreciative for what we have before we begin to focus on what all else we want and then head full force into consumption mode.
After all, most of us are fairly well fed, well dressed, and generally well off. By comparison, as I read the Bible, I am reminded that the Disciples had no security, Mary and Joseph had no room, and Jesus Himself had no pillow on which to lay His head. I am also mindful that, even today, there are many others who are still lacking.
If the holidays (and especially Christmas) are about anything, then surely they are about doing for others. God did for us. And He expects us to for others in turn. So, enjoy the bounty He provides. But make certain that you find ways to share it with others along the way. In short, consume away - be it food, fun, presents, attention, or whatever. Just be sure you produce something as you do.
For, surely, what we give, rather than what we get, is the true measure of our Christlikeness. It has to be; for Christmas itself is proof positive that Jesus meant it when He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Perhaps these words of the Apostle Paul in his New Testament letter to the Philippian Christians (2:1-11) say it best:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen!
*SOURCE: http://www.ahajokes.com/sea05.html.