Boxes and Balls

Recently I was sitting with a mom at a sporting event for our children. We got to talking about activities and children and how things have gotten more and more involved compared to when we were children. We talked about how sports and activities require more money, more equipment and materials, more time, and more commitment and sacrifice from parents. As we were talking, it hit me and I stopped and said, “it’s all boxes and balls!”

My friend probably thought I was crazy for just a second until I made the connection with a book I used to read to our children. This book was given to me when I was pregnant with our first son and I can still remember reading it to him and him jumping around in my belly as I read, “boxes and balls” over and over. Maybe he thought I was beatboxing or something!?

The book I am referring to is entitled, You Are Mine by Max Lucado. It is a children’s picture book with a sweet story for children, but a strong message for people of any age. I have used this book a few times when I had the opportunity to talk to a group of older kids or teenagers. I’m sure they rolled their eyes when I showed up with a children’s book and a bag of boxes and balls, but I hope it is something they will remember and a lesson they won’t forget. I should have said…. a lesson I hope WE won’t forget. It is just as much for me as anyone else.

In the book there is a little village of people called the Wemmicks who have been created by the Maker. The Maker is close by, but leaves the Wemmicks alone to make their own choices. There are a few books about the Wemmicks, but in this particular book someone in the village gets a little box and then gets a ball. Other Wemmicks admired his box and his ball and wanted to get their own. Soon everyone in the village was getting boxes and balls. They would get more than the people around them or get bigger boxes and balls than the others. The whole village couldn’t get enough and the amount of boxes and balls they had were getting to the point they were stumbling all over them and couldn’t even carry them all. The main character in the story was a little guy named Punchinello. He held out on the race to get boxes and balls until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He ended up sacrificing things he needed just to get the boxes and balls like everyone else. When he finally comes to his senses, he gives up on the competition and goes to find the Maker. At the foot of his creator he hears the message, “It’s not what you have, it’s Whose you are.”

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2

As you know, this is not the message of our culture. Our culture pressures us to gather more boxes and balls and to sacrifice whatever we have to in order to get more. When you see this played out in the book, it breaks your heart for the people of the village and of course seems silly. But it is no different that what we often see going on around us. I’ll give you a simple and silly example, but the same applies to houses, cars, children, activites, you name it.

A few years ago a certain type of cup was invented that was super insulated and would keep your drink cold for hours. These cups were crazy expensive for a cup. Yes, they did work! I have one! Then I noticed other things coming out for the cup. There were different types of lids for the cups, there were special straws, then straws made of different materials, then straws made of different materials that were bent, then straw cleaners, then handles you could buy to go on the cups, then bigger versions of the cups, then smaller versions of the cups, then we starting monogramming the cups, then we started dipping the cups in special paint, and on and on. I think you get it! Now, this is NOT an indictment against the cups! I think they are great and I have one, but to me is just a simple example of boxes and balls. (and genius marketing!! 🙂 )

The point of this post is two fold. First, an encouragement to check ourselves as adults. Is there an area where we are seeking to “keep up” and get boxes and balls? Do we need to stop and go the the Maker and say, “I’m tired! I can’t keep going like this. I understand that I am special because I am yours” ? I don’t know that we ever really outgrow those tendencies. It is wise to check our hearts and see who we are trying to please. This post is also an encouragement to share this lesson with your children, teenagers, or those that you know. Our culture is designed to entice children to want more and more. Companies know where they are going to make the money- with children- so they use any media necessary to capture their attention. Just think back to all of the crazy things that have taken off with children- silly bands, fidget spinners, tele ties, bracelets filled with water. Although I wish I had created one of those, 😉 they are examples of boxes and balls in a very small form.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:6-12

Our Maker knew how hard this was going to be. He knew that every day we would be tempted to substitute the worth his gives us with things, position, accomplishments, and more. We hear and can quote Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” But when read in context, this verse is referring to living with contentment! The verses before it say, ” Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” God knew that our eyes would constantly be looking around us instead of focusing on him. He was aware that it would not be easy, but it would be possible if we let Christ do it in us and give us the strength we need.

Blessings!

Christa

If you family would like a copy of You Are Mine, you can click on the picture below:

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