Are You a Sour Patch Kid?

    One candy that my students really like is Sour Patch Kids. If you do not know what they are, they are gummies that are covered in sour bits that look a bit like salt. They do not taste like salt, that is for sure. When you put one of these candies in your mouth, it starts out sour then becomes sweet as the sour flakes disappear against your tongue. The catch phrase of this candy is: "first they're sour, then they're sweet, then they're gone."

   I wonder if sometimes we are like one part of a Sour Patch Kid. Here's what I mean. Let's say you wake up and realize you forgot to get groceries yesterday, so you have nothing for breakfast or lunch. Then you get to work, and your one co-worker is out sick, so you have more work to do. You go about your day and lunchtime is coming up. Grabbing a granola bar, you prepare to go through the rest of your day hungry because this is all you have to eat. A co-worker comes up and says, "I made some taco dip last night and left some in the break room if you want any." You go grab some of that dip right away. Then go back to work which is uneventful the rest of the day.

   If someone were to ask you how your day went, if that story was your day, what would you say? Would you say that it was not good because you did not have anything for breakfast and your co-worker was out? Or would you say it was good because a co-worker provided lunch for me, when I did not have any and I was able to have a productive day?

   If we focus on all the negative things, we have a sour attitude. There is good, there is sweetness, in every day. There can be blessings in every event if we look for them. Philippians 4:8 reminds us of this: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Each day brings reasons to praise God. And I'm not just talking about good things that happen. Things we perceive as bad things can be good. It all depends on how we look at it.

   Back to that story, blessings in it: you had money to buy groceries later, even if you forgot the day before. You have a job, even if your co-worker was out sick. Your co-worker would probably be back soon if it was a small illness. You have good health. You had a granola bar to eat. Your co-worker provided food for you. You had a productive day, with few incidences. 

   If you focused only on the sour events, there would be no sweetness in life. You would not be showing the difference in your life. You would not be reflecting God's glory. We are called to be set apart. We are called to spread God's sweetness in a sour world, because one day we will be gone then it will be too late.

   So, is your attitude sour or sweet? How can you focus on the sweetness of the day?