When I was a little girl, my family received a box of chocolates every holiday season. It was a big rectangular box with two layers of yummy chocolate. My sister and I would argue over the caramels. Most of the time, the boxes came with a lid that had a diagram of what each piece was filled with ... but, sometimes there was no list. And, on those occasions, it was "first come first serve". If you got the caramels, you were the lucky one.
One Christmas, I decided ... I WAS getting ALL the caramels. I waited until no one else was around and I poked my finger into the bottom of each piece of chocolate. I found all the caramels, ate them and then left the rest in the box. At the time, I thought it was a pretty sly idea. The next day when my Mom went to get a piece ... yeah ... not so sly. For some reason, she noticed the hole in the bottom of each treat. I tried to convince her it wasn't me but it didn't work. I was punished ... but, I am pretty sure I heard my parents laughing about my ingenuity.
The next holiday, I knew better than to try any trickery to getting all the caramels. I took whatever piece I got and ... I ended up finding out I liked lots of different chocolates.
Life is a lot like that box of chocolates without the "map list." Forrest Gump was right ... Life is like a box of chocolate ... you never know what you're gonna get.
Do you ever get tired of waiting to see what God has planned? Do you ever find yourself trying to figure it out on your own ... like poking a hole in the bottom of those chocolates?
I do. Sometimes, I try to convince God that I deserve all the caramels ... all the things that I like best. But you know what? If all I ever tried was caramels, I would never find out that I really like orange filled chocolates and the strawberry filling isn't too bad either.
If all God ever gave me were good days ... I would take them for granted. When He lets me struggle or gives me a little challenge ... it makes me stronger and I've found out that I like the strong me. I appreciate the warm sunny days because I know what the cold days are like. God knows what's best for us. Sometimes His best might be a box full of ONLY caramels. But, other times it's a box filled with surprises.
Caramels are still my favorites but I have found pleasure in all the flavors.
Philippians 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
One Christmas, I decided ... I WAS getting ALL the caramels. I waited until no one else was around and I poked my finger into the bottom of each piece of chocolate. I found all the caramels, ate them and then left the rest in the box. At the time, I thought it was a pretty sly idea. The next day when my Mom went to get a piece ... yeah ... not so sly. For some reason, she noticed the hole in the bottom of each treat. I tried to convince her it wasn't me but it didn't work. I was punished ... but, I am pretty sure I heard my parents laughing about my ingenuity.
The next holiday, I knew better than to try any trickery to getting all the caramels. I took whatever piece I got and ... I ended up finding out I liked lots of different chocolates.
Life is a lot like that box of chocolates without the "map list." Forrest Gump was right ... Life is like a box of chocolate ... you never know what you're gonna get.
Do you ever get tired of waiting to see what God has planned? Do you ever find yourself trying to figure it out on your own ... like poking a hole in the bottom of those chocolates?
I do. Sometimes, I try to convince God that I deserve all the caramels ... all the things that I like best. But you know what? If all I ever tried was caramels, I would never find out that I really like orange filled chocolates and the strawberry filling isn't too bad either.
If all God ever gave me were good days ... I would take them for granted. When He lets me struggle or gives me a little challenge ... it makes me stronger and I've found out that I like the strong me. I appreciate the warm sunny days because I know what the cold days are like. God knows what's best for us. Sometimes His best might be a box full of ONLY caramels. But, other times it's a box filled with surprises.
Caramels are still my favorites but I have found pleasure in all the flavors.
Philippians 4:12-13 "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
I guess, I am a little weird...I like the surprises GOD has around each turn in the road.
ReplyDeleteHugs, andrea
I loved caramels when younger. Not now that every little piece, I have to watch out that I am not growing sideways :) You're one smart girl who figured out how to get those! lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's why we must never say "no" to anything even if we don't like it. Because we just never know what will be missed if we pass up that opportunity. And the Giver knows best! God bless.
I used to do this with those candies that weren't labeled like the Whitman samplers did. I guess it definitely shows us how to get around things we don't really want to know what's inside, by poking fingers in the bottom but like you discovered there are flavors you developed a liking for by not doing that.
ReplyDeleteSometimes those trials can be a blessing in disguise. Great post! Loved your analogy!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Kat ... Whitman samplers ... those were the ones!
ReplyDeleteThanks to each of you for your words and for sharing that Caramels ARE the best! :)
RCubes ... you are right, saying no to something the Giver gives would mean we miss out on his blessings.
Andrea, you are not weird. The fact that you look forward to the surprises down the road ... that makes you so very special.
God Bless you girls today,
Aine
I love your analogy! Its the ups and downs, twists and turns in life that make us who we are. if we always knew exactly where we were going, we wouldn't appreciate the arrival near as much and the getting there wouldn't be near as much fun.
ReplyDeletepeace, love & joy
pamela