Tip of My Iceberg

Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage for kids. Their adult teeth erupt, unhinging the tiny cuspids and making their way into small mouths to begin another stage of growth. My kids always hesitated to tell me when they had loose teeth because I’d ask to see how wiggly the tooth was. My tendency was to pop it out, much to their chagrin.

I didn’t want them to swallow the tooth in their sleep.

At six, Beck lost his first tooth. He was very proactive about communicating with the tooth fairly; he didn’t want to be forgotten.

I’m translating:

“Tooth fairy, my tooth is under my pillow. Leave money. Love, Beck. Leave a dollar.”

You have to love a young person who tells it like it is.

Beck was pleased with his negotiation with the tooth fairy. He wasn’t too greedy, but he knew his tooth was worth something. He’d had a valuable commodity fall from his mouth. He deserved some recompense for his loss.

We all go through life with a sense of negotiation, which happens when there’s a difference in desires or needs with another person. It can be as incidental as compromising on where to eat dinner to asking for a raise in wages. It’s a tool to find common ground, agreement, or resolve conflict differences. Kids negotiate with their parents all the time, usually over the freedoms or opportunities they hope for that they don’t want to miss.

Sometimes a little given produces a lot more.

When Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded by Herod, Jesus wanted to get away for a bit, so He and His men sailed to a remote area. But crowds followed Him, for His teaching meant something to them. Jesus was exhausted, but He took pity on these people who needed the hope He offered.

When evening came, and the crowd hadn’t eaten all day, His disciples came to Jesus telling Him to send them away to nearby towns to get something to eat.

Jesus’ response was that they should feed them.

They were dumbfounded. There were at least 5,000 men there, along with women and children, totaling at least 10,000 people. They found a young boy who’d brought a small amount of food, five little loaves and two small fish; barely enough to feed one person–a poor man’s meal. How could it feed so many people?

This boy was willing to share all he had with Jesus, even if it meant he’d go hungry.

Jesus told His men to have the people sit in groups. He then took the loaves and fish and thanked His Father for His provision. When the disciples distributed the food, everyone was able to eat their fill.

“Now, after everyone was full, Jesus told His disciples, ‘Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.’ So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.” John 6:12-13. God lavishly provided what was offered sacrificially, even though it was a small amount.

Beck wasn’t being greedy with his request for a dollar from the tooth fairy. He doesn’t yet understand the art of true negotiation–he was content with a little.

As adults, we need to realize how generous and gracious God is toward those He loves. Being in a faith relationship with Him provides us with what we need for life. We too often offer a small piece of who we are; He provides love and grace in abundance.

What are you willing to offer Him of yourself?