Every year the ladies group in our church have a catered Christmas dinner. Traditionally I am the fortunate one who gets to take home the leftovers. It was the same this year. This meant I was able to surprise the girls with a few leftover dessert goodies.
In the chaos of gleeful celebration, Milana managed to sequester the only two of their favorite cookies. While Madison, brownie in hand, communicated with vigour her indignation, Milana quickly assessed the situation and decided the wise response was to shove both cookies down as fast as possible, racing my reaction to Madison.
Before I was able to address Milana's overt display of original sin, Madison had a display of her own. Still holding the before mentioned brownie she laid into a tearful lament that was unquestionably an overreaction to her suffering. Thus my attention was redirected from Milana's misdemeanour to Madison's felony. I began a discussion with her about the spiritual discipline of thankfulness. I facilitated her to point out that had she been poor, she never would have reacted so, for she would have been much too excited about the brownie in her hand and the other various treats still waiting for her on the plate. Somewhere in the discussion, I had an epiphany: I am counselling myself.
Awkward!
As was recently posted by VOM, "I have found truly jubilant Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church and in prison." - Richard Wurmbrand
It is far too easy to lament the lost cookie while holding a half eaten brownie.
