Don’t Postpone Joy. It’s Time to Use the Bunny Bowls

Lori here, what does a long line of “savers,” a trip to Japan, and a set of bunny bowls have in common? They swirl happily together to encourage you not to postpone joy.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to use the bunny bowls.

I come from a long line of “savers.” My grandmother saved the soft nightgown we gave her for Christmas in case she went into the hospital. My aunt saved her favorite dress “for special occasions.” My mom saved “the best” China for company that seldom visited.

Years ago, the United States Navy deployed my son-in-law to Yokosuka, Japan. As a new bride, my daughter went with him. She traveled 6,970 miles away from her home and family.

As soon as I could, I visited. We hugged a lot, ate authentic sushi, and shopped in the fun little stores in her new town. I bought traditional Kokeshi dolls as souvenirs for my friends and family, but I wanted a more practical item for myself.

Bunny bowls

The Japanese are known for their pottery. One day we visited a shop filled with hand-painted and beautiful pieces. As I browsed the store, I spotted a set of pale blue bowls. Frolicking rabbits and Ginko tree leaves danced across the outside. On the inside, the artist had painted a fat-bottomed bunny, complete with whiskers and a fluffy tail.

I was in love.

The pottery was pricey, but I knew I’d found the perfect remembrance of my trip.

I wrapped them in layers of clothing and tucked them into my carryon. No way was I trusting the baggage handlers with my precious bunny bowls.

The dishes arrived home intact, and after I showed them to my family, I squirreled them away in the back of the kitchen cupboard. There they stayed, safe and protected.

I didn’t use them because they might get chipped or broken, and that would be sad. Occasionally I’d take them out, look at them, and smile, but for the most part, they stayed tucked away in the cupboard.

After several years, I’d almost forgotten them.

One Day

But one day, as I looked for a seldom-used dish, I saw them. Their paint was as bright as the day I brought them home. I admired the delicate brush strokes and smiled at the cotton-tailed bunnies painted on the inside.

I’m going to use a bunny bowl today, I decided. It seemed fitting to use my favorite bowl for my favorite treat, so I scooped some cookies and cream ice cream into the bowl. As I savored the creamy goodness, I smiled. Memories of my daughter and the places I’ve visited with her and her husband flooded my mind.

When I spooned the last bite of ice cream into my mouth, I looked down and smiled again. On the bottom of the bowl, coated with the remnants of my dessert, sat the whiskery bunny I’d fallen in love with years before.

I’d tucked away the bunny bowls because if I used them, they might get chipped, broken, or worn out. I’d protected them from harm, but I’d also kept myself from enjoying them.

God Doesn’t Promise Tomorrow

I’ve come to realize the truth that God doesn’t promise us tomorrow. “This is the day that the Lord has made,” He tells us in Psalm 118:24 (ESV). Today is the day to rejoice—in soft nightgowns, favorite dresses, and bunny bowls.

We don’t have to bank joy for another day. When we do, we say to God, “Your blessings are limited, and I don’t believe you’ll send more. I must hoard them.”

But God says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it!” (Psalm 81:10).

Every Day

Now I use my bunny bowls almost every day. I smile as I eat cereal in them. I scoop stew into their blue beauty. I fill them with oatmeal and fruit—and ice cream—so much ice cream.

One day, as I washed one of the bowls, my dishcloth snagged. The edge of blue paint that adorned the rim no longer ran interrupted around the top. A small piece had chipped off, exposing the white pottery underneath.

I sighed. What I had originally feared had happened. My beloved bunny bowl wasn’t perfect any more.

Should I return the remaining bowls to the back of the cupboard?

I rinsed the suds from the dish and dried it with a soft towel. I glanced again at that fat-bottomed bunny.

Then I reached for the ice cream.

One Day

One day my bowls will break beyond repair, and I’ll be sad. But I’ll never forget that joyous trip to visit my girl and the thousands of meals I’ve enjoyed in my dishes.

I’ll smile, because the same God who gave me my bunny bowls has new gifts waiting for me.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

What special gift from God are you reluctant to enjoy?

It’s time to use the bunny bowl.

What have you “tucked away” that you’ve been reluctant to enjoy? I’d like to hear what that is. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

P.S. Have you been reading Walking in Faith? If you’ve enjoyed it, would you please share your honest thoughts in an Amazon review? Reviews help other readers find great books. I”m hoping to get 50 reviews by next week, and I’m only 16 away. Your review can help me get there! Thanks so much! (Click the image below to leave a review.)