Lesson From a Lunchbox

The lunchbox has been part of attending school since the late 1800’s. That’s when school children first made use of old cookie or tobacco tins saved by their mothers to carry that all-important mid-day meal with them to the classroom.

I remember the lunchboxes of my own elementary school days in the 1970’s.   One year, I carried a vintage Roy Rogers lunchbox that was missing its thermos. Later, I had the iconic red and black plaid lunchbox of the 1970’s, complete with a thermos that never could keep milk cold. By middle school, most of us had passed our metal lunch containers on to younger siblings, trading them for little brown lunch bags.  What never changed was the charge from mom; “eat your sandwich and fruit first.”  This wasn’t always easy when a Twinkie, or a Little Debbie, or a pudding cup was waiting!

But there was fun in trading items with one another. From the time our bottoms hit the seat, we were making deals: a chocolate chip cookie for a snack cake, or peanuts for potato chips. Picking and choosing, making trades, and even discarding what we didn’t like on occasion, were a regular part of our school lunchtime.

Picking and choosing is good in many areas of life, but one area where we must resist the temptation to do so is among the pages of God’s Word. The temptation can be strong when we want to make a choice that we know deep down isn’t the best one, or may be sinful. When we’re tempted to take a little here, and leave a little there, it’s good to remember Proverbs 30:5:

Every word of God is tested and refined [like silver];
He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

It may be fine to pick and choose from a lunchbox, but when it comes to our spiritual health, we must heed the whole counsel of God. We need the conviction that comes with hearing the harder truths to help us grow and bring nourishment to our spirit and soul.