From the Pastor’s Pen………….
How many of you choose your breakfast cereal according to the prize that is to be found on the package or the prize within the package?
All of us have probably done this at one time or other in our lives. The prize may be a whistle, a plastic airplane, some kind of game or other nonsensical thing.
Sometimes ¡ used to spend a long time in the cereal aisle at the grocery store trying to figure out what the best prize was or what I could get the most for at the least price. Then,when we got home with the groceries, Mother always announced that I had to eat the cereal before I could get the prize. I thought this rule unfair because my buddy next door got to dig right into the cereal box and pull out the prize first thing Then, sometimes, he didn’t even look at the crunchie-munchies or the toastie-woasties. None of that business for my mother. I ate the cereal first or no prize. But, when I finally got the prize, I opened it, played with it briefly, then raced out of the house to show my friends. I had earned that prize and somehow the things a person earns are more meaningful than things that come too easily.
How About That?
I often think that each day of our lives is like a package of cereal in many respects. We have to work our way through it to get to the prize. A day is much better than a package of cereal if you consider that it may offer several prizes and cereal usually offers only one.
It’s true that we have to work through our daily chores. We have to work through the daily tasks of our business, at home and at work. But, at the end of the day, it’s a good time to stop and consider what the prizes were for the day. Maybe you saw the first robin of Spring. Or, maybe the tulip bulbs you planted long ago poked their heads through the ground. Prizes come in all shapes and sizes... some come in the form of words. Maybe someone looks at you and says, “You did a good job”. “Thank you very much, I needed that. Whatever happens during the day, stop and think. Bright spots stand out — spots that will make the whole day worthwhile. Think about this tonight and ask yourself, “What was the prize?”
~ Pastor Bill
How many of you choose your breakfast cereal according to the prize that is to be found on the package or the prize within the package?
All of us have probably done this at one time or other in our lives. The prize may be a whistle, a plastic airplane, some kind of game or other nonsensical thing.
Sometimes ¡ used to spend a long time in the cereal aisle at the grocery store trying to figure out what the best prize was or what I could get the most for at the least price. Then,when we got home with the groceries, Mother always announced that I had to eat the cereal before I could get the prize. I thought this rule unfair because my buddy next door got to dig right into the cereal box and pull out the prize first thing Then, sometimes, he didn’t even look at the crunchie-munchies or the toastie-woasties. None of that business for my mother. I ate the cereal first or no prize. But, when I finally got the prize, I opened it, played with it briefly, then raced out of the house to show my friends. I had earned that prize and somehow the things a person earns are more meaningful than things that come too easily.
How About That?
I often think that each day of our lives is like a package of cereal in many respects. We have to work our way through it to get to the prize. A day is much better than a package of cereal if you consider that it may offer several prizes and cereal usually offers only one.
It’s true that we have to work through our daily chores. We have to work through the daily tasks of our business, at home and at work. But, at the end of the day, it’s a good time to stop and consider what the prizes were for the day. Maybe you saw the first robin of Spring. Or, maybe the tulip bulbs you planted long ago poked their heads through the ground. Prizes come in all shapes and sizes... some come in the form of words. Maybe someone looks at you and says, “You did a good job”. “Thank you very much, I needed that. Whatever happens during the day, stop and think. Bright spots stand out — spots that will make the whole day worthwhile. Think about this tonight and ask yourself, “What was the prize?”
~ Pastor Bill
