The Good Part

Last Sunday, I watched as my five-year-old grandson was eating his snack of frosted mini-wheats. He had several pieces of the cereal lined up in neat rows, frosting side up, on the chair next to him. I also noticed that there were still some pieces of cereal in the plastic baggie. As I continued to watch, it became clear what was happening. He would pick up one of the mini-wheats from the chair, eat the frosting off of it, and then return the now un-frosted portion back to the bag. I picked up the plastic bag and, sure enough, each piece in there had the frosting gone. I almost said something to him about the need to eat all of the cereal but then thought better of it. After all, there isn’t any law that says you have to eat every last bit of your mini-wheats, is there? I’m sure it made perfect sense in his young mind. Why eat the dry, unappealing part when you can go straight to the “good” part?

It is a strategy, by the way, that would earn a stamp of approval from the Son of God. Luke tells of a time when some friends of Jesus disagreed over some priorities. During a visit by Jesus to their home, Martha was “distracted by all her preparations” (i.e. the “wheat” part of frosted mini-wheats). On the other hand, her sister Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him teach (i.e. the “frosted” part of frosted mini-wheats). In answer to Martha’s charge of a lack of concern, Jesus praises Mary’s choice of going straight to the “good” part. He reminds Martha that “...only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Yes, the unappealing parts of life must be given our attention. But let me encourage you to go straight to the good parts from time to time. Ignore the wheat and head for the frosting!

God loves you!
Mike