“Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit...”

My son, Stephen, loved peanut butter sandwiches. Actually, love is too mild. He… LOVED peanut butter sandwiches. Every meal… he wanted a peanut butter sandwich: no jelly… just a (well you get the picture.) We traveled to restaurants with a paper bag that contained… you guessed it: a peanut butter sandwich. “We would like two shrimp dinners. My son brought his own food. Nothing personal!”

“Would you like a hot dog?”  “No!” You could see his look of determination.

“Have some spaghetti?”  “No!” A tear was beginning to form in one eye.

“Please eat the broccoli?” “No! I want my peanut butter sandwich!!”

Something had to be done! (Remember, Stephen was my first, born before I read the training manual.) He could end up in college still eating those same peanut butter sandwiches. Can you imagine his first job interview… over lunch? Oh, the shame! Somehow… someway, Stephen needed to broaden his eating habits and I was determined to help him. A showdown was brewing!

The day of the big battle started innocently enough. I quietly said to my son: “I have to run a few errands. Why don’t you come with me, Stephen?” We pulled into the restaurant before the lunch crowd arrived. “Let’s get something to eat.” I ordered the food and began setting it on the table. The inevitable question beginning the first skirmish soon came: “Where is my peanut butter sandwich?”

“I didn’t bring a peanut butter sandwich, son. Why don’t you eat this hamburger?” (Can you imagine having to force someone to eat a hamburger? Is the world out of alignment?) That determined look appeared on his face and the tears began. “No! I want my peanut butter sandwich!”

“Son, there will be no peanut butter sandwich today. You are going to eat this hamburger!” As father and son squared off in a quiet restaurant, I recalled an old sales lesson. In a battle of stares the one who looks away first, always loses. This time, I would not, could not and dared not lose!    

Slowly, with the trace of a tear trickling down his cheek, he picked up the hamburger and took his first bite… His face, little by little changed from a frown to a slight smile. Then he took a second bite and a third. Then Stephen reached for a french fry. Wow! As Mikey would say: “He liked it! He liked it!”

Larry is there a point to this story? Of course there is. My son settled for the security of peanut butter and overlooked a smorgasbord of delectable food to savor. In many ways, don’t we all?

U       We seek security and pass on golden opportunities.

U       He complains about his job but never goes back to school to acquire new skills.

U       She says: “I’m lonely” and stays home watching TV.

U       Our churches cry out, “We want to be alive! We want to receive new families! We want to make a difference!” Yet so few are willing to venture beyond what is safe.

It’s time to break the Peanut Butter habit!

Jesus said this about food. “I have food you don’t know about… My nourishment comes from doing the will of God… Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!” (Portions of John 4:31-36) 

U       We receive nourishment doing the will of God…

U       Vast Fields are ripening all around you…

U       The fruit will be people brought to eternal life…

U       What joy awaits the planter and harvester alike…

Are you settling for a peanut butter sandwich when God offers so much more? Maybe it’s time to take a hard look at your relationship with God and with your church? Sign up for a Bible study. Join a small group. Start a prayer time at work. Help a neighbor in need. Serve on a mission project. Why settle for peanut butter when God offers… steak, lobster, salads, chocolate cake pizza… well, you get the picture. (And I’m getting hungry!) There is only one problem. My son still won’t eat broccoli!

Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit… Following God’s Recipe for a Better Life

Larry's latest book is a 336 page hard back filled with great stories, humor and a down-to-earth Bible study: "Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit... Following God's Recipe for a Better Life." will make a great Christmas gift for your family, friends and especially you. To buy now at special price: Click Here