“A cheerful heart
is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up a bone.” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV)
There is
always a basket next to the bed that stays full of: Gummy Bears, Whoppers, Jujyfruits,
Raisinetes, Razzles and more. My husband loves candy. In order to draw me into his candy party, each
night he makes me close my eyes and guess what flavor Razzles I’m eating. He
shares his Gummy Bears and often tries to convince me that the pineapple ones
aren’t so bad. When the kids come to our room, he brings them into the candy
festivities as well. It is a small part
of our day, but it is a fun time together.
There is
only one thing my husband likes better than candy and it is a bargain. Last
week, there was a sale on a variety of his favorite candies. He bought so much candy that the basket on
the side of the bed could hold no more; so he decided to utilize the book shelf
for his extras. He lined the candy boxes perfectly in the bookcase. When I saw his
display, I was quite amused because at a glance, it resembled a variety of
academic texts. Right in front on me, was a visual presentation of both of our
obsessions: mine, a row of books and his, a row of assorted candies.
I began
to consider the possible end results of our two obsessions. My initial thought
was that reading books can increase wisdom and knowledge; eating candy can
increase the waistline. When I looked deeper into the consequences of how these
obsessions affect each of us, I began to altar my initial conclusion. When I
start reading, I often want to tune out the whole world. I don’t want to stop
for anything or anyone. At times, I become so consumed in my readings that I
fail to remember that I can be negatively affecting important relationships. If left unmanaged, the aftermath of my
obsession can be more dangerous than my husband’s weight-gaining candy craze.
While my
husband’s candy get-togethers may seem frivolous, it is really a small means of
building and expanding existing relationships. Aren’t relationships built on the small and
simple things in life anyway? In
Proverbs we are told that “A cheerful heart is good medicine…” Isn’t it great to be lighthearted, to eat
candy together and forget the drudgery of the day? Even if it is for a short
time, it is enjoyable to overlook the seriousness of life, to be silly and spend
time with each other.
In
comparing and contrasting our two obsessions, I decided that while growth and
development are obtainable through the books I continue to collect, there is a
lot of fun in my husband’s fulfilled candy obsession. This is true, even
considering the downside of a budding waistline!
Michele
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