I was hanging out with my grands several years ago and slicing apples for a snack. Caroline (3) sat beside me on the kitchen counter while Andrew (1) waited at my feet. I handed him an apple slice, made sure he was munching happily, then went back to slicing.
Pfhhhtt. Splat.
Something warm and wet hit my foot.
“Andrew! What are you doing?”
Pfhhhtt. Splat.
A slimy piece of apple skin sputtered from his mouth, and, this time, landed on the floor. He’d taken a bite, chewed it until the fleshy part disintegrated, and spit out the skin.
“He doesn’t like skin on his apples, Gigi,” Caroline remarked.
Apparently not.
I took the remaining apple wedge from him to trim the skin off.
But Caroline was faster.
By the time I’d wiped the apple goo from the floor and my foot and picked up Andrew’s apple piece again, she’d nibbled all the skin off her apple wedge.
“Here Andrew,” she said triumphantly, holding out the naked fruit, “no skin!”
He scrutinized her gift for skin remnants, then popped it into his mouth, cheeks bulging like a well-fed chipmunk.
Later, as I reflected on the exchange between the two, God reminded me:
1. He created us to be unique, with different likes, dislikes, and preferences. A preference for skinless apples is one example. We need to remember that different isn’t wrong, just different. How much better would our relationships be if we graciously allowed room for “different” without treating it as right or wrong?
2. He created mankind in his image with a natural capacity to love, share, and serve. Caroline’s thoughtful act of service to her brother is a sweet example of this. We can be similarly sweet.
3. He provides an endless source of patience and grace to help us deal with the often-amusing, sometimes-annoying quirks of our families and friends. Lord, make us as patient with others as you are with us.
I’d like to issue a challenge – consider the ants (or grandchildren, cats, dogs, trees, birds, sky, or anything else that catches your eye). Study it. Prayerfully ponder. Invite God to reveal himself to you through what you see. Then leave a comment below to share your observations.
I can’t wait to hear how God shows himself to you.
“Go to the ant . . . consider her ways and be wise.”
Proverbs 6:6
While I’m not much on ants, and suspect I never will be until the Millennial Kingdom arrives, I can and do try to observe, ruminate, and learn from nature. In doing so, I’ve discovered some things about myself. And much like your grandchildren, they are what makes me uniquely who God made me to be. I think of the old children’s story of the city mouse and country mouse. Neither, when outside of their element, were comfortable and confident. Yet, they are both mice. It’s when we focus on what ways we are like that we can then use our unique skills, traits, and gifts to help the other. Loved this post ma’am. Thank you!
My life has been turned upside down since I moved cross-country with my husband, who is 85, (I am 74), Taco, my Corgi, who is 2, and all our stuff on a 14 ft trailer, and in 2 U-Haul Boxes that we sent on ahead.
Rental housing was not available in the small TN town my husband wanted to reside, so we found a small motel room. We found a house in construction out of town about eight miles, and were told it would be “finished in 45 days, no problem”.
Ninety days later we are still in a small motel room, waiting for completion. I know the Lord is in control of all this, and there is a lesson to learn, but some days I am overwhelmed with our circumstances.
But then I look at Taco, who is laying contentedly under my make-shift desk, perfectly content to be in these surroundings, because she knows I am with her and meeting all of her needs. She trusts me to take care of her, so she is fine with our circumstances.
I am not always so trusting and content, and yet I know that the One whose “eye is on the sparrow” is taking care of me! Thanks, Taco, for reminding me when I forget that truth!