The child took the candy from the pretty voice and ate it. All of it.
When his mother called her for a good, beautiful supper, she was full. Everything she loved that her mother cooked was before her. There was her favorite bread, sweet ham, beautiful dollops of sweet potatoes and all the things her mother made that she loved.
But she was already over-full with the cheap candy.
"If I could do it over again, I would not eat the candy and wait!" Thought the girl. The candy felt revolting in her stomach now, and the foods she knew she loved before her made her feel worse.
Her mother hid the sadness that came with knowing that her child had chosen a false meal instead of her wholesome one.
At a youth group today our teacher was talking on something like this. It hit me because it is something I've been thinking on quite some time.
Would this be us?
On the day when we are welcomed home - will I be filled with all these substitutes and unable to stay at the table - will all my life be consumed by the pretty on the outside and not the good on the inside? Can we reverse the instinct to keep on with "life" and not give our time back?
First, don't get lost. Giving our time back isn't something I say. It's when I choose to read, to pray, to ask and share with God. To persevere when it is dry, because I know that the joy and the peace and the good plans God has for me will keep me full.
It comes down to realizing I am empty and to constantly be assessing myself and putting into action what my Father gives me. Like a ballerina, who is always checking if her stomach is in, her head high, her core engaged, an inch taller, a little stronger, the knees wider, the shoulders back more, the point, harder harder - until it hurts! All this the good teacher reminds the ballerina and the pupil takes it and uses it to become better.
I like that. God is not silent. He will help. He will always be there when I start over. Again and again.
And here is how to use what you have. Well, in order to not get calls asking "Where's my water buffalo?" I'll clarify by what I mean when I say "what you have" into something more like - what you should have. There.
You should have trees nearby.
You should have a hot glue gun.
You should also have a bit of yarn for knitting. When you get all these things and throw them on your floor, you should look at this picture, and start your own idea. This craft idea came from something I saw in Anthropologie. The picture is mine. This is a craft I began with my mom. That's so nice to think of.
