PRETTY PACKAGES

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things a man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

On Sunday afternoon we visited our local farmers market - Harry's. It's always a fun trip. We enjoy the fresh fruits and vegetables as well as the variety of other products not sold in our regular run-of-the mill grocery store. The boys get so excited when we read them all the captions about the various fruits and vegetables there, we always seem to learn something new. The boys' favorite section is the bakery and Sunday was particularly exciting, because we allowed each of them to select one thing of their choosing to take home. C was drawn to a particular wafer style cookie with brightly colored packaging, in fact, he decided fairly quickly that would be his choice. However, there was one small problem. Well, actually there were several small problems that came in the form of missing ingredients. The packaging clearly stated that the cookies C so desired excluded A LOT of the ingredients he has come to know and love. They were "free" of practically everything - gluten, wheat, eggs and dairy - just to name a few. Despite all the "free-ofs," the packaging was pure eye-candy and for C, that sealed the deal.

We engaged in a fairly lengthy conversation around the picture on the outside versus what was really on the inside. I explained as best I could on a 5-year-old-level, that things are not always what they seem and we should not make decisions based solely on what we see. Some of this he understood but mostly he decided to trust me and made another choice.

I thought of the many lessons packaged in this little "packaging" experience for C, not to mention the reinforcements that were there for me. I know we will have this conversation many times over the years ahead, though the reasons for the conversation may change, the basic lessons will remain the same. Here are just a few things I hope to impress upon C (and B), in the years God has given us to teach and train them.

1. God is concerned with the inside. We should live lives that are authentically aligned with His Holy Word. Not just ones that are well-packaged, meaning they look good on the outside and are even filled with religious exercises, yet they are void of any true pursuit of holiness.
   
   
2. Life's pretty packages, though very appealing to the eye (or ear or mind or wallet) do not always contain God's best for us. Seek the heart of God in every circumstance.
   
   
3. Trust God. Where C didn't understand the fancy words after the "free-of" claims, and I was short on simple explanations, he chose to trust me. I was prepared to let this lesson go all the way home with us, if he had stood his ground; But,it was beautiful to see his final decision hinge upon the words I had spoken to him. And I pray that this will be the same way he grows to trust God and live by FAITH even when sight (and packaging) says different.

Lord, hear my prayer.