Life Is Like A Box Of Chocolates. You Never Know What You're Gonna Get.

Well it is all the way you look at it I guess. I remember when the movie Forrest Gump came out in 1994 and Tom Hanks spoke Forrest’s now famous quote, "My mamma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.’” Then we got a far more cynical view in 1996 when the Cigarette Smoking Man on the TV series The X Files said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. A cheap, thoughtless, perfunctory gift that nobody ever asks for. Unreturnable because all you get back is another box of chocolates. So you're stuck with this undefinable whipped mint crap that you mindlessly wolf down when there's nothing else left to eat. Sure, once in a while there's a Peanut Butter Cup or an English Toffee. But they're gone too fast and the taste is... fleeting. So you end up with nothing but broken bits filled with hardened jelly and teeth-shattering nuts. And if you're desperate enough to eat those, all you got left is an empty box... filled with useless brown paper wrappers.”

So which way do you look at things? Are you like Forrest that takes life each day for what it is and tries to make the best of it, or are you like the Cigarette Smoking Man who prefers to see the worst of things and then has to make sure everyone knows about it too?

There are things in life that happen no matter how prepared or organized you are. Car accidents, the death of someone close to you, loss of a job, etc. are all things that can happen to us that we have no control of. What we do have control of at all times is how we choose to react to the things in life that happen to us.

First of all, there may be times we do not always understand why something happens to us, but we can lean on our faith during these times for strength and guidance. There have been several times in my life that I have gone through situations that were very low valleys in my life, however looking back on them I can see how events during that time either shaped my life and faith to make it stronger or how I was a key puzzle piece in the change of the course of events, that I know was part of God’s plan. I got a fortune cookie yesterday that said, “Courage does not come without fear or suffering.” As coaches often tell their athletes, “No pain… No gain!”

What it all really comes down to is whether or not we are living in the Spirit or not. It says in Galatians 5:16-18, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”

You can slide into a negative lifestyle because of things that have happened in your life and become like the cynical Cigarette Smoking Man with your sinful nature evident for all to see. When you don’t live in the Spirit you can carry a black cloud with you where ever you go, casting a shadow on everything you come into contact with. Galatians 5:19-21 warns, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

You must make the choice whether or not you will dedicate your life to Christ and focus on making your life one of good character and strong faith. When we dedicate our lives to God we are blessed by the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-26 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” If we are willing to honor God’s will for our lives and work through the sanctification process, there are blessings and the fruits of the Spirit that we can look forward to.

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." When we keep our focus on God the things of the world that would drag us down begin to fade away. We can begin to see God’s hand and purpose even in some of the most difficult and hurtful times. We can stand strong and hold fast onto our faith, because we know that God has no limits to His love or His power.

Life really is like a box of chocolates. True, you might not know what you are getting, but often there are clues for you to follow. By experience we learn what kinds of flavors come in what shapes, colors, and sizes. There may even be a diagram or description if we take time to look for it. With experience as we grow in our faith we learn and understand more too. The Bible is our best description and diagram for our lives if we would take the time to study it.

We may not always like all the chocolates in the box but some people must like them or they would stop making them. We may not always see things the same way or have the same opinion as other good Christians, but that does not mean that we can’t work together to honor God’s will and glorify His name. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe the reason for the “assorted chocolates” in your life are not for just you to eat, but they are there for you to reach out with the sweetness of life to share with others? What may mean so little to you, like the discarded chocolates you don’t care for in the box, might mean everything to another person if they are their favorite flavors. Oh, please don’t be one of those selfish and impatient people either, that goes through life poking holes in the bottoms of the chocolates, taking the one preferred piece and ruining the rest of them for others.

So what if you don’t like the chocolates. At least someone thought something of you to give them to you. Think of how many people won’t be remembered in any way. It is the thought that counts, just as it is how we choose to live and think by faith that will make the difference in the end. If you don’t like the chocolates rejoice that you can be a blessing and share them with someone else.

FaithfulToOne © 2007

Don't forget to find the link below for More Footsteps In The Valley. You will find the prayer that goes with this message there, along with other interesting links and information. Take care and God Bless.