Addiction

The truth is... I actually do not like running.  In fact, most days I wake up dreading the run I'm about to do and once I get started, most of the time, I simply cannot wait for it to be over with.  I hear a lot of my runner friends talking about running as if they truly love it.  It's hard for me, and I'm slow, and my body often hurts while I'm running. 

So why do I do it? I guess it's because I'm addicted to it.  I'm addicted to the feeling that I have after I'm done running. I'm addicted to the endorphins.

I don't know if it's in my genetic makeup, but I do know that I have a tendency to become addicted very quickly to things.  I've just been fortunate enough to pick up mostly healthy addictive behaviors. 

An unhealthy addiction that I have, however, is with checking my phone.  I swear, my phone is like a crack rock some days.  I feel so compelled some days to check my phone, that I often have to make a real effort to leave it alone.  It takes more than my own power to not look at it, though. I have to pray OUT LOUD to God that I don't overuse my phone sometimes. 

I can't be the only one out there that feels or thinks this way...

The reason why this is an issue for me is because I would hate for my children to have fond memories of their childhood, but most of their memories involve me being on my phone while we're doing an activity.  It's a very unpleasant feeling I experience when I think about that possibility. 

The reason why addiction exists is because it is a great tool used by our enemy to keep us away from God and all that is good in life. 

Please don't misunderstand, I am not taking other kinds of addiction (i.e. drugs, porn, alcohol) lightly in this post, as I know those addictions are very serious. 

I've just had it on my heart lately to discuss this topic, as I think many of us struggle with our own addictions, whether they are dangerous or not.  Your addiction might be to a certain person who is not good for your life.  It might be to a particular way of thinking that you're used to.  Some addictions can be healthy and lead us to a prosperous life, but so many of our addictions will lead us to sickness and possibly to death, which is the enemy's ultimate goal.