You’re Eating it Wrong!

I’ve discovered a tiny piece of heaven, Hershey’s Kisses with macadamia nuts. O-M-G! I can’t eat just one. When I put my hand in the bag, my fingers shuffle around for 2 or 3 at a time. I’ve had kisses before, but the macadamia nut was a genius idea. GENIUS. My husband is my best friend which means I tell him everything, especially when it comes to good food! So, I come home and tell him that today I’ve just had the best thing EVER! Because I had eaten more than my share, I decided not to bring any home for him to try. But a week later, I walk into the pharmacy and what do I see? A big bag of Hershey’s Kisses with Macadamia Nuts! I stuffed a few in my pocket– some of me and two for my husband and daughter.

When we got home I told them to close their eyes and I put one Hershey’s Kiss with Macadmia Nut in their hand. Their eyes lit up! (I love them!) Because I’ve eaten my fair share of these, I pretty much have it down to a science.

The Rules:

1. Unwrap kiss and throw away the wrapper. (I can’t stand seeing that foil all over the place or balled up. Just throw it away!)

2. Pop the kiss into your mouth.

3. Savor the milk chocolate. (No biting.)

 4. Savor some more. (Yum!)

5. Right when you begin to feel the macadmia nut, bit into the kiss, mixing the milk chocolate and macadmia nut.

6. Savor the awesomeness that is in your mouth.

7. Swallow.

Those were the rules I laid before them.

But, what did they do?

They unwrapped the kiss and threw their wrappers away. (They know me very well.)

They popped the kiss into their mouths.

And, they begin to bite and chew.

NOOOOOOOO!

YOU’RE EATING IT WRONG!!!

They didn’t care about my “style” of eating the Hershey’s kiss with macadamia nut. They enjoyed it their way and they loved it.

This scenario reminded me that people should be allowed to be themselves. Sometimes, we believe we have all of the answers.

I’ve done it before and mastered it therefore you have to do it exactly the way I advise you to.

Or…

I did it before and messed it up therefore you should never do it this way.

Or…

I’m older so you should listen to me.

Or….

Your way doesn’t make sense to me so you it must be incorrect. 

Or…

I’ve never seen it done that way so the likelihood of it working is slim. 

We shouldn’t be so controlling, so doubtful, and so full of ourselves. Yes, we may have some wisdom, some experience, or an educated opinion, but at the end of the day we should allow others to make their own decisions. It’s unhealthy to get so wrapped up in other’s lives that we feel betrayed when they make a choice we wouldn’t have chosen.

Giving people room to grow and freedom to make their mistakes is love. 

After all, God will use our mistakes to shape and mold us into the person He called us to be. Falling down and learning how to get back up can do wonders for a person. Hasn’t it done wonders for you? Don’t you just love hearing a person’s background story? It gives them depth and character. It would be a shame to refuse someone the right to see their depth, their strength, their resolve.

When we have nothing, nowhere to turn, no confidence to muster up, that is when we go looking for God.

Are you and your controlling ways standing in the way of someone’s freedom, depth, strength, and relationship with God?

With Love,