Sugar Fast Day 36
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ECCLESIASTES 12:13
One of my fondest memories is visiting my grandparents’ home. Summers were especially fun with many a family reunion. We would swim, hike in the woods, play ball in the field and pick wild raspberries. I even got married in their yard. It was one of my favorite places in the world. So, when my grandmother was ready to downsize and move into a retirement community, it was hard to say goodbye to her home. My grandmother lived in a 15-room house. It was all hands on deck as the family came together to close this chapter of her life and prepare for a new chapter. This was no small feat, deciding what to take, what to give and what to scrap.
Purging More Than Sugar
It reminds me of another epic purge. When Josiah assumed the throne, Judea had seen many an evil king. Yet this young boy loved God and was obedient to His commands. Josiah began to “purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places” and the idols. (2 Chronicles 34:2-4) Then, having purged the region of their evil, Josiah set about the business of exposing the people to their sin, promoting godliness and renewing the people’s covenant with God.
What an example to emulate. This young boy, despite the ways of his father and his grandfather before, chose a different path. Recognizing sin, Josiah repented and stepped into God’s purpose for his life—obedience, reverence for and worship of God. The longer my body goes without refined sugar the better I feel; the clearer I think and the more creative I seem to be. But this story has me thinking about other areas of my life that need a little purging. This fast may have begun with getting rid of sugar, but it has become something more.