I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, tried to avoid it if possible, wished for intervention to do her thing and step in to save the day – but she did not show up and no such last minute change of fortune has occurred. Which is why today I find myself drinking the last remaining Lipton Green Tea Citrus that I have on hand, even as I ponder the prospect of not being able to purchase any more of this product. Why?, you ask. Well, I have been noticing empty shelves in the store where this product is normally found for the last several weeks. Meanwhile, my supply of Lipton Green Tea Citrus at home has been diminishing. (I usually buy on sale, so typically have a reserve supply – a stash but not a stockpile – I never anticipated this shortage or disappearance)

You see, some years ago I gave up my diet Coke habit. After trying many different replacement beverages, I discovered Lipton Green Tea Citrus and this became my new drink of choice, my “treat” each day, just as diet Coke had been for years. The Lipton Teas come in many varieties and flavors, but this is the one I always come back to after trying something new. So you can imagine my growing concern as my home supply has been growing less and less while the Lipton shelf in my store continues to remain empty.

Which brings me to today, drinking my last bottle of Lipton Green Tea Citrus and pondering my next move. How far will I go in search of this vanished beverage? Or will I simply find a replacement? Today I am wishing that this last bottle I am drinking would turn out to be like the widow’s jugs of oil and flour, which although almost empty, didn’t run out, but gave her just enough for each day. That would certainly solve my problem.

I confess – in the last couple of days I have ventured out to other nearby stores. But their shelves are also absent of bottled Lipton products. So now I am concerned but also curios. What is going on? A whole product line has mysteriously disappeared from stores. How widespread is this? Finally, at one store, someone told me that a warehouse had been damaged in a storm, disrupting distribution of these products. When this issue will be fixed and Lipton products will again be available in stores is unknown at this time.

So I am wondering now, if I drove far enough away, would I find Lipton products in stores in other distribution areas? The question is though, how far? out of town? out of county? out of state? And just how far am I willing to drive in search of my desired Lipton Green Tea Citrus? (especially considering the current price of gas, not to mention the time commitment) This has the potential to become an all out quest. Or will I simply go into withdrawal tomorrow as I face my first day without Lipton Green Tea Citrus?

Time will tell. Perhaps it is time for a road trip. If only I knew which direction to head and how far I need to go to be in a new distribution area. I don’t live close to the state line so that is not the easiest option. Maybe I should just find a suitable substitute beverage? – something that is already accessible at my regular store. After all, do I really want to be driving all over, farther and farther, in search of something I am not guaranteed to obtain? I’m not sure my Lipton Green Tea Citrus is worth all that time and trouble. There’s a limit to how far I’m willing to go to get some green tea and bring it back home.

I’m glad there’s no limit to what my Heavenly Father would do for me or on how far He would go to rescue me, make me His own and take me home with Him. It’s like this story in Matthew 18:12-14,

“If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

God would go to any lengths and indeed He did when He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. There was no limit to how far He would go, to how far He actually did go on our behalf, on my behalf and on your behalf, dear readers.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus traveled across time and space to spend time with us here on earth. He left everything when He came for us. Philippians 2:6-8 tells me this about what Jesus did,

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

That’s how far God would go – even unto death – and He did just that!

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

” . . . and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9)

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

from heaven to earth, to the cross, to the grave, back to life again, and back to heaven – sitting at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for me and for you even now – that’s how far Jesus went – and I’m so thankful that He did! (how far will I go to find green tea? remains to be seen – day one without starts tomorrow . . . )

sincerely, Grace Day