Jane & I have a child’s toy that seems to have been a favorite with all of our grandchildren.  It is a small aquarium sphere looking thing that makes music when moved and you can put balls in it.  It is smaller at the top than inside so that the balls stay in when rolled around unless taken out or turned upside down.  A few days ago my grandson Easton was playing with it as I watched.  Now Easton is very fond of balls.  He had two at the time and put them both in the aquarium.  The hole at the top is just big enough for him to put both hands in at the same time so he decided to do just that.  As he grasped the two balls, one with each hand, and attempted to pull his hands out he discovered that he couldn’t do it.  The hole was not big enough for him to remove both hands holding on to both balls at the same time.  It took considerable persuasion on the part of wise old granddaddy to convince him that he had to let go of one to get them both out!  Once he did of course, he got them both out (hands and balls).  While I watched my 17 month old grandson struggle with this puzzle I considered the lessons that were wrapped up in that little toy.          

            Greed – Had he been satisfied with one ball he would have had no problem.  How many of us will settle for one ball when we see two?

            Listening – The Bible speaks often of having ears to hear.  It usually means people refuse to listen to God.  Even at 17 months my grandson understood what I was saying to him.  But until he would do what I said, he was stuck.  How often do we remain stuck because we will not listen?

            Patience – Once he had his hands around both balls it was very difficult to let one of them go with the prospect that by doing so he might eventually get them both out.  A hard concept for a small child, and just as hard for a 60 year old man I can tell you!

            Selfishness – When I first noticed his problem I attempted to help by offering to take the sphere from him.  Being a third child and in the absence of his older siblings he was not interested in this kind of help which he was used to.  He pulled away determined to do it himself.  Have you ever done that to God as He attempts to take a problem from you in a way that means you must give something up, or at least it seems that way to you?

            I’m sure there were other lessons to be learned, but about that time Easton had extracted both hands and balls and changed the game to dodge ball with Granddaddy as the target for the treasured balls. 

            As the new game ensued, the toy aquarium was forgotten along with all the previous toys played with on this seemingly endless day that would end all too soon. 

I love being your pastor,

Russ