CLEOEJACKSONIII.COM
  • My Home Page
  • My Life and Ministry
  • My Ongoing Thoughts
  • My Favorite Bible Verses
  • My Favorite Stories
  • My Favorite Jokes
  • My Favorite Quotations
  • My Favorite Web Links
  • My Contact Info
"Helping Others Communicate"

IN AND OUT!

2/15/2021

 
A minor crisis has now been averted in our family.  As anyone who has ever helped to raise kids or grandkids knows, sooner or later, the chances are that one of them is going to swallow a coin.  Well, our time came yesterday, as one of our grandsons, aged two, managed to do just that!

His mother and father heard him choking, and by the time they ran over to him, it was too late.  His four year old brother confirmed that he had just put a dime in his mouth.  At this point, one parent called the doctor while the other set about googling what to do next.  The consensus of all relevant authorities was simply to wait and see. 

Apparently, this is fairly common event.  It seems that small children are prone to explore much of the world around them with their sense of taste.  Moreover, 90% of the time when this happens, the coin eventually makes its way through the body and exits completely intact, leaving its host no worse off for the experience. 

Reassured, we all stilled ourselves and settled in for an anxious period of waiting until the matter was concluded.  Inevitably, perhaps, in an attempt to relieve stress related to our situation, a round of witty banter soon began to unfold via group texts...

I actually began it with these words:  “I always knew one of my grandsons would amount to something one day.  But a measly 10 cents?  For crying out loud!”  I got one or two smiley face emojis in return.  In short order, though, everyone else picked up the gauntlet, and  began chiming in themselves… 

A “Show me the money!” meme popped up.  Then, a “Mister, can you spare a dime?” gif appeared.  This was followed almost immediately by a whole succession of witty quips… 

“I wouldn’t start worrying unless it came out as two nickels.” 

“Of course, if he did snag himself a nickel, he could always open a five and ten cent store!”

“Who needs an ATM when you have a kid dispensing dimes?” 

“Not to mention that no one can ever tell him he isn’t worth a dime!”

My personal favorite was this one:  “At least having survived the Great Depression and the Second World War, Mr. Roosevelt won’t really be bothered by another day or two in the dark!”

The good news is that all’s well that ends well!  I am happy to report that everything “came out” just fine “in the end”! My daughter reported today that the human piggy bank was now empty!  More to the point, he was entirely oblivious to the whole affair!

A flood of relief washed over all concerned as we realized the danger had indeed passed.  No doubt the whole episode will soon be forgotten.  But it does raise a question or two.

You see, little children are not the only ones whose appetites can get them into trouble.  The Apostle Paul warns us to be leery of those for whom “their god is their belly.”  So, then, what’s in your mouth?! What’s on its way to your belly?!  What is it that you either already have, or else are about to sample, and then swallow, that could do irreparable damage to you once ingested?

My little grandson isn’t the only one to be mistaken in thinking that sampling and swallowing a bright, shiny object was okay simply because it looked good!  Trust me…  a lot of adults have done the same thing in life!

Seeking satisfaction and fulfillment, people swallow not only material substances, but an entire assortment of other things as well…  Fame, fortune, possessions, position, accomplishment, experience, authority, recognition, pleasure – the list is endless!  So, be careful with such things.  They may look appealing to the eye; but a belly full of them can have serious consequences!

A two year old can be given the benefit of the doubt for sampling and swallowing an inappropriate thing.  After all, he does not know any better.  But an adult is judged by a different standard.  For this reason, if for no other, surely it behooves you and I to practice prudence, and to rise above a life lived merely in pursuit of the slaking of our appetites. 

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:  https://biblehub.com/philippians/3-19.htm.

NOTE:  Billy Graham once told the story of Suzie, the prized ostrich at the Detroit Zoo.  She died suddenly; and so an autopsy was performed to determine the cause.  To everyone's amazement, over three and a half dollars in small change 
was found inside her stomach.  Graham's concluding admonition was:  "Money killed Suzie!  Does money kill you?!"  Source:  James W. Cox, The Twentieth Century Pulpit (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981).

Comments are closed.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All