The first time
The first time my daughter encountered Blue Band margarine, she took a full-body bath in it. At barely one year old, she must have mistaken it for some premium body jelly. Of course, I couldn’t blame her—she was just a baby. But my maid, now that was another story. “Why on earth would you leave margarine in a spot where a toddler could reach it?” I remember thinking.Fast forward a few years, and I bought my now older daughter a range of things she was supposed to finish: sweets, crisps, juice—you name it. So, one day, I thought, “Let me buy her a bottle of lotion, something practical for a change.” When I got home, I found her shining like a freshly polished car. Her skin was practically glowing, and not in that healthy, sun-kissed way. She looked up at me with the proudest grin and said, “Mum, I finished the lotion you bought me!”Now, it took the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit for me not to lose my mind in that moment. You see, I realized that every time I had given her something, I told her to finish it. Sweets? Finish. Juice? Finish. And so, in her innocent little mind, she figured that lotion was no different. My disappointment was real, but I couldn’t help but laugh on the inside. What a lesson!As the years went by, the struggle to teach her moderation continued. She had a tendency to finish her lotion with remarkable speed. If she ran out, she’d casually “borrow” from her siblings, which, naturally, resulted in countless sibling wars. On the other hand, her father took a stricter approach to resource management, lecturing her on the efficient use of everything from toothpaste to toilet paper. But I, with my God-given patience, kept buying her more lotion and lovingly teaching her the art of not finishing it in one sitting. Yes, it was an expensive venture, but eventually, progress was made.Looking back, I realize that this whole lotion saga is a perfect reflection of how God deals with us. How many times have we been irresponsible with the gifts He’s given us? Not just gifts, but all the resources He provides—our time, our talents, our money? And yet, He gives us second, third, and fiftieth chances to learn. He keeps supplying us with grace, even when we squander it, hoping we’ll eventually figure out how to use it responsibly.So, here I am, reflecting on my daughter’s lotion story and recognizing my own tendencies to waste God’s gifts. Lord, I repent! Thank you for your endless patience and love. Even when we “finish the lotion,” you’re there, ready to teach us how to use it wisely.
