Seems like forever. I am only 21 days into Lent, and the effects have been mixed. So far I have managed to stay away from the thing I gave up - well, except for one unfortunate incident when I inadvertently partook of it because it was mixed in with other stuff and I didn't realize that until afterwards.
Then I felt awful, apologized to the good Lord for not having known, and promised myself to keep a lookout for hidden temptations.
I can't imagine how Noah managed to get through not only 40 days of rain, but a whole year on board that ark. Its interesting how your perspective changes.
*First you think you are handling it just fine and its not really affecting you.
*Then you hit the craving stage and have to invoke every ounce of strength to run the other way.
*Then your discipline gets a little more stable and you are confident that you are going to make it just fine.
*Then you begin to experience the 'withdrawal' effects and become aware of how that thing was affecting you - more than you realized.
*Then you adjust to that, but you are tired of playing the game and you just want it to be over so you can get back to 'normal' if there is such a thing.
*Then you assess whether you want to go back to the way you were before, and decide a change is needed.
*Then you have to figure out how severe a change you want to make.
*Then you're just plain tired and you want to sleep!
Wow! Over such a little thing. Sigh. I think the next step should be to stop thinking about it and focus on something better. Maybe I can just replace it with an activity I love.
Yes, I'll try that this week, see what happens.
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