More than a Toy

~Tracy Frederick

 

I stopped by one of our dollar stores on December 28th looking around for Bible class take home ideas and I couldn’t help overhearing the only other customers. Mom and grandma were searching for something specific while a young man of about 10 scrutinized the toys. At each toy inspection he YELLED across the store to his mother that he “needed” a toy-whichever one he was testing out at the time. I... can only imagine the amount of toys the young man must have received on Christmas to cause such a reaction of selfishness and gluttony. At one point I came face to face with the mother, who was pushing a cart with a little girl who was also grabbing for toys as her mother tried to navigate the aisles. I looked into her weary eyes as we met. She looked up at me, embarrassed but shrugged as if to say, “What can you do?" as her son yelled out another demand. I thought about how this little boy has already learned the lesson of ingratitude, selfishness, excess and self pride. He has already learned to focus on the material. I immediately thought of beautiful babies that will bound into the church building on Sunday and Wednesday evening excited for Bible class. They will be taught there that the Lord must be first in our lives. I prayed that they are taught all gifts come from the Father and their Creator, not their parents or grandparents. I prayed that they know God made it possible, not Santa. I also prayed for that family and the little boy. It was a gentle reminder: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” I John 2: 15-17.