A BOX OF CHOCOLATES

Believe it or not, I’m not a big fan of sweets, including chocolate. Even as a kid... coming home after a successful night of Trick-r-Treating I would nibble on just a few treats then stuff the full bag of candy under my bed. The bag would be forgotten until months later when my mom would have on one of her... “DEBBIE! Clean under your bed!” ...kind of moments. Well, lo and behold, there it was! The sack full of petrified candy just waiting to be tossed into the trash. 

 

All these years later I guess I’m still pretty much the same. An occasional nibble of something sweet satisfies me... and then I forget about it and eventually it finds a permanent home in the trash.  *That is unless my sweet-tooth husband get’s a hold of it... then there’s usually nothing to throw away, but I digress...  

So this past Christmas when we received a box of See’s Chocolates I did what I usually do. First, the box sat on the counter for a few days until I finally opened it. Eventually I selected a chocolate and either cut it in half or nibbled a bite to see what was inside. If I didn’t like it - back into the box it went! Yep! That’s how I “eat” a box of chocolates.

 Pick and choose.  

Recently, I realized that sometimes I do the same thing in my relationship with God. Savoring the “things” that seem sweet to me, or if it’s something I don’t particularly like or if it makes me uncomfortable... it might just go “back into the box.” 

Of course I have my favorite scriptures. Those are easy to hold on to. But there are also some texts that are difficult to digest. Words I want to avoid completely because they “hit” a nerve or go against m.y. human, selfish nature. Scriptures like: 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)  

 Or....  

“Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this.”  (I Thessalonians 5:18)  

And another tough one for me is...  

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.”  (Philippians 4:6)  

Yes, they are words of wisdom, but they are not easy to do. At least they aren’t for me. 

Speaking of prayer... It’s easy to praise God when He answers in the way I’ve ask Him to... but what about His answers that are completely contrary to the way I’ve prayed? And what about the silence of God?  These are things that are difficult. And this is where TRUSTING HIM no matter what comes into play.  

But oh! how I want HIM to cooperate WITH ME and do things MY way. And therein lies the problem... M.E.!!! I’ve got it all mixed up. It’s not all about me... it’s all about God.

I need to grasp on to the truth that G.O.D.  LOVES M.E. and He simply wants me to trust Him, listen, cooperate and walk with Him every day of my life. How much sweeter, and easier life would be...  if only I would. 

Yes, God knows what He’s doing... His words... His guidance... His answers...  everything is so much better, so much sweeter His way. I have no need to pick and choose like I do with a box of chocolates ... because you know what? My Father truly DOES know best! And everything that comes from Him IS GOOD.  

So this year, with HIS HELP, and HIS GRACE I really want to...   

“LOVE the Lord MY GOD, LISTEN to His voice,                                    and HOLD FAST to Him. 

For the Lord IS MY LIFE.”                    Deuteronomy 30-20