Punchinello

The boys and I have been reading a new book, "You Are Mine", by Max Lucado.  Both boys love it...and it's not that short of a book so anything that keeps their interest is great by me!  If you have little kids - get this book.  There's a few more books like it, telling different stories with the same characters which I will definitely keep on my list to shop for...

Anyhoo, the reason I bring this book up is because of our reading today.

"¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:12-13

In the book, the main character Punchinello  lives in Wemmicksville.  And, like all the other Wemmicks in town, he was carved by Eli the Wemmick-maker.  The story goes on about how everyone started to collect boxes and balls to see who could have the most.  Those that had the most, were seen by others as "good" Wemmicks...and those without were looked down on.  By the end of the story Punchinello meets Eli, his maker, and he realizes the mistakes he's made along the way during his quest to collect the most boxes and balls.  Eli is a loving maker, and said to Punchinello "You're special - not because of what you have.  You're special because of who you are.  You are mine.  I love you.  Don't forget that, little friend."  Punchinello gets a good lesson on how to be content in any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  We, like the Wemmicks, need to rely on our maker to supply what we need (not just what we want), in the way He knows best.

Punchinello worked hard to get all his boxes and balls.  It cost him a lot.  But he didn't do all that because Eli wanted him to.  Turns out, like people, Wemmicks sometimes do silly things.  In verse 13 we read that "I can do all things through him who gives me strength".  This doesn't mean that God gives us superhuman strength to do whatever we want...what it does mean is that Christ is our source of power when we are obedient to His will and face challenges.