This time of year the candy seems to pour into my house. No matter where my children go, they are blessed with treats and candy. As one holiday follows another, the “blessings” go on and on. Not that my children are complaining, (neither is their dentist!) One of my daughters in particular, is quite the confectionery gourmand. However, every now and then, there will be something that is even outside her expansive taste. My kids call it “weird candy.”
The trading becomes hilarious and sometimes fierce, as they try to persuade a sibling to take the unwanted candy. Surrounded by piles of candy that they do like, they can become very focused on the one piece they haven’t even tried, but are sure they will hate.
As always, my children’s escapades cause me to think about my own life. What is the “weird candy” that pops up unexpectedly? Things that are not necessarily bad or difficult, but just different and unexpected. My tendency is to view new things warily. It might turn out to be my favorite activity in the world, but like my kids being unwilling to eat something unfamiliar, I am also hesitant to try the unknown.
There is another side of this. Just as my children lose sight of the blessings surrounding them as they focus on the unusual, I too can get so wrapped up in worrying about a new opportunity that I forget that I am surrounded by blessings. I forget that God always gives us choices, that as long as I am putting Him first I am free to try new things or not try new things.
God gives us opportunities every day. There are opportunities for obedience, which by the way, He will never force us to do. Also, there are opportunities for growth. And then there are the “weird candy” opportunities, times when we can choose to step outside of our comfort zones and try something new!
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10
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