“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
I felt like an archaeologist as I sorted through my disgusting garbage. A question had been nagging my mind and slowly graduated into “but I just gotta know!” So there I was digging through coffee grounds, vegetable peelings and stuff I could not even explain, all to get to an answer that has plagued parents for generations!
My daughter and hubby were going to a friends baby shower, which left us watching our grandsons. Coast is 2+ years old and at the perfect ‘fun age.’ I KNEW where he would go when he got to the house… and he did! Running straight to my big colorful bubble gum machine. Turning to me with big eyes, he asked, “can I have gum papa?” I replied, “son, you can have all the gum you want here… and you don’t have to ask!” Now you now the question which had me face deep in garbage!
“How much gum will an unrestrained 2 year old chew in 4 hours?” The only RULE was that he had to spit the old (Already Been Chewed) gum into the garbage before getting another. The first number that came to mind as a guess was 28! The only person I had to use as a gauge was ME! And I thought that as a kid, ‘I’d’ chew that much… at LEAST! After all, isn’t bubble gum kind of like sin? And Isn’t desire for it like a heart that is never satisfied? I’d soon see!
When it was all said and done, and after trying to account for how many gumballs might be ‘in THAT big piece…’ It looked like ‘28’ came fairly close. But then…I felt a gentle nudge in my spirit to take a closer look at my findings!
I know some might be appalled at allowing a 2 year old free access to bubble gum. I am proud to say that Coast is alive and well AND… that he REALLY LOVES coming to MY house! Katie and I learned that the clicking sound of the Bubble Gum machine actually brought joy to our hearts. Coast was enjoying abundance and we all had a great time together… chewing gum, building blocks and playing cars. It was an afternoon of love we won’t soon forget.
In the end I had to throw out my scientific study due to faulty data. Just when my parental instincts started to gravitate toward proof that indulgence produces sin, that ‘prodding’ in my spirit made me ‘look again!’ 1 Corinthians 13, the definition of LOVE, came to mind as I got the chance to see God at work…loving ME! I am absolutely SURE that my Heavenly Father smiled REALLY BIG when I realized, at his nudging, that the bigger pieces… were actually MINE!
