God’s M&Ms

Our youngest daughter is less than 3 months away from turning 4 years old, and up until last week, we could not get her to use the toilet. There were none of the tell tale signs of being ready for potty training; no dry morning or post nap diapers, no warning signals as she was about to go. In fact, she didn’t seem at all aware of when she was going. There was not a single motivating bribe that seemed to interest her to even try. I tried stickers, suckers, and chocolates. She would just say, “No, thanks.” I bought fun, themed underpants of which she had little to no interest in wearing. 

I actually gave up trying because my back wasn’t well enough for the battles, and I could so much as dangle an M&M in front of her face, and she’d just say, “Nah,” and proceed to use her diaper.

A little less than two weeks ago, she began telling us when she had to go, and suddenly, because it was hers, using the potty seemed like the best idea ever! And she didn’t forget about those M&Ms tucked away in the cupboard either. After completing the task of using the potty, she exclaimed, “Yay! Now I can have my special treat!”

I had stopped bribing her. I had stopped offering her the candy. I had stopped forcing my own will upon her. She is living in a house with 5 other humans who know how to use the toilet. She has seen it done her whole life. She has had all the tools and all the knowledge she has needed, but until that very moment, she just wasn’t ready. 

How often do we turn away God’s blessings; God’s M&Ms if you will, because we are not ready for the responsibility? When we have not yet matured enough, spiritually, to do what God has called us to do, we are essentially saying, “Nah. No, thanks. I’m good just like this, sitting in my own mess.” Nevermind all the M&Ms. Just the freedom alone that this task provides, is a blessing in and of itself.

My daughter may have felt that going potty was taking away valuable play time. She didn’t realize that much more time was wasted on the changing table. She may have felt that the toilet was big and scary and loud, but really, it takes care of her messes for her, so she doesn’t have to sit in them. She can be clean and free.

What does that sound like?

God has given us free will to choose. He has allowed for us to make our own decisions. But, He also has great plans for us if we follow His teachings. Sometimes that step toward His will can be scary. It can feel like we don’t know what we’re doing or we don’t have the time. It might be loud, and it might be completely different from what we’re used to. But if we lean into Him, there is freedom and cleansing in His will, and He is waiting there, with His blessing for our obedience.

​When God holds that M&M out for you, will you be ready to receive it?