Once, not a very long time ago, there was a little boy whose life was the definition of tragedy. We’ll call him Tommy. Tommy was always dressed in pants that were much to short, a shirt that was much to big, and a smile that would always melt your heart. There’s not much you need to know about Tommy except that he and my husband, James, were buddies.
One day, after a pariculary hard day at school James picked him up with his 4-wheel drive truck. “I think we’re going to go off roading to get our minds off of school,” he told Tommy who had never been before and eagerly hopped in the truck. After a few minutes of questions about where they were going, Tommy pulled a gigantic bagged pickle out of his back pocket. He started munching on it and James said, “I forgot to tell you, there’s a rootbeer for you in the back seat.” Tommy’s eyes lit up and with pickle juice still trailing down his face he grabbed rootbeer and took a swig.
“My favorite combination!” Tommy beamed. James looked at Tommy questionsing the words coming out of his mouth.
“Your favorite? That’s a disgusting combination. Have you even had pickles and rootbeer before?” Tommy sat back and thought about it for a second, looking confused. Than he smiled and shook his head, “No. I haven’t.”
“Than how could it be your favorite?”
“Well,” he paused, taking a another swig to wash down the pickle. “It’s my favorite because its what I have.”
Tommy wasn’t trying to be profound. He wasn’t trying to make a statement or teach a lesson, but he did.
Yesterday I was thinking about Tommy.This week has been rough . Nothing in particular. Just rough. All the dissapointments of the last three months just seemed to tumble right into my lap-and they just sat there. To say I am dealing with discontentment would be an understatement. I guess that’s why I’ve been thinking about Tommy. I never seem to want what I have. I haven’t mastered learning how to experience each thing that I’m given as a gift and I haven’t’ learned how to see each gift as “my favorite”. I haven’t mastered it at all, and right now…I’m wishing I was more like Tommy.
I hear you Em. Sorry you had a tough week. I guess it’s like what Rich Mullins said: I’d rather fight you for what I don’t really want than take what you give that I need.
http://youtu.be/d9T3tL5U67w
i was totally listening to rich mullins today. so good. thanks for the link.
Dissatisfaction is the stuff that fuels our culture. We are weened on it from a very early age – Alas what is life without Captain Crunch, Marlboro’s or IPad’s. By the way dill pickels on peanut butter and strawberry jelly is totally over the top.