Comfort Blanket

Did you ever have a comfort blanket when you were younger?! I sure did! I LOVED my "blankie." I think it survived all the way up to the ripe old age of 8! It went everywhere with me. When I got up in the morning it covered my face when my mom was singing at the top of her lungs to wake me up. It went to breakfast...whether it was wrapped around my shoulders or on my lap. I took it in the car if we went on errands or school or wherever (mom would make us leave the "blankie" in the car if we were in public places - meaning too many germs. haha). I mean, I wore that "blankie" out!!! I think mom retired both mine and my brother's when they had shrunk down to the size of a patch (slight exaggeration).

Definition of "security blanket"
n.
1. A blanket carried by a child to reduce anxiety.
2. Informal Something that dispels anxiety.


Do you have a comfort blanket in your life? Maybe something that you go to find comfort?! Whether it be something physical, tangible, or an action you do....

Truth be told, as much as I drink coffee....I DO NOT always like that taste of it! (i know, shocking news...especially since it seems like I always have one in hand). Don't get me wrong...I like it, but don't always love it for how much money I spend on it. It's a taste I built up the tolerance for since I was YOUNG (I blame my mother). I like the comfort of something in my hand. In the morning it feels so good to have a hot cup of joe in my hand. I do LOVE the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I also have grown accustom to the caffeine and it waking me up and sustaining me throughout my busy schedule.

So this past Monday marked the start day of giving up coffee til May and as well pushing the reset button on my alcohol intake (admittance: tolerance is way higher than I ever want it to be - all about the healthy boundaries). So no coffee to wake me up in the morning and no glass of red to put me to sleep at night. I don't want to say these are "vices"...but in a sense they were as well as a "comfort blankets." I've made it through this first week...in which there have been a few hard times...especially sleeping at night, but all in all I am glad I have made this decision and it's a healthy one (not to mention will help my voice last while helping lead worship in Africa in 28 days).

I was sharing my decision to do this with a friend and she was sharing with me that she was giving up chocolate starting this week too. She goes to chocolate to find comfort...which is also not good seeing as summer is around the corner ;) But she found herself eating a TON of chocolate when she was sad, happy, bored, stressed. It became a "vise" a "comfort blanket"

I started thinking about this more and more...and then in my quiet time the Lord spoke clearly...the Holy Spirit is your Comforter...He is your "comfort blanket".... So many scriptures back this up (below) and also goes with what I feel the Lord has been speaking to me and many others about the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16
John 14:26
John 15:16
John 16:7
and the list goes on


We all have our "comfort blankets" or "blankies" - not all are bad or unhealthy...it depends how far we take it, but where do you find TRUE comfort in your life?



SIDENOTE:
Well, it has come to the wire....I still need to raise $650 for Kenya by Monday!! EEEKK!!! A lot of you have said you wanted to help and I guess I did not read it clearly that all the moola had to be in 30 days out...and well, we have hit that mark. So (and you all know I never ask for help like this) if you wanna help send me on my first trip to Africa to go work in the slums...you can donate online by going to crosspoint.tv/give, (click: One time donation, Campus: Nashville, Other: [A box will pop up] then type: "Annie Crandall + Nairobi" then continue to the payment info.). ** I also have a "Mission Trip Tax Donation Form" if you need it :)**

Thank you so much for reading this and even considering to help!

Love you all dearly and have a great weekend
Annie