Cupcakes and sunlight

A spiritual look at issues of interest to young people

I have a question for you. It may seem strange at first, but I think you'll see why it is important.

Is good more like a cupcake or like the light from the sun?

I told you it was a bit strange! But think of it this way. Let's say you have one person. And you have one cupcake. And you are trying to read a book outside in the sun. That all sounds pretty good.

But what if we have three people? And there is one cupcake, and they are all planning to read a book in the sunlight.

And then, what if there are ten people? There is still one cupcake, and they all want to read their books outside in the sun?

Now, we can ask the question again, is love more like the cupcake or the sunlight?

If you answered "the sunlight," you've already learned an important lesson.

Obviously, if good things like life and love are like a cupcake, then we'll end up getting a smaller and smaller piece with more people.

But we won't get any less sunshine, no matter how many people there are. And that's the way it is with anything good. Good multiplies. When something good happens to one person, it can't hurt another. There's always enough love for everyone.

For example, your mom and dad might say they have good news - you're going to have a new brother or sister. Everyone is excited. But you don't know if that is really so wonderful. You like having your parents to yourself. Why do things have to change? you ask.

A friend of mine ended up feeling that way when he learned that his grandfather was going to get remarried. He always loved visiting his grandfather during summer vacation. And now everything is going to be different.

But the Bible says that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). Because God is the source of everything good, there is always enough to go around. God doesn't give good to some people and leave others out. God is all good. Total good. Goodness never runs out. It never gets smaller. It is always increasing. It is always there.

What makes you forget this? Well, sometimes it is thinking just of yourself. You don't want to share. Don't want things to change. You want that cupcake all for yourself. There certainly isn't enough for ten people! "Don't tell me it's like sunlight, it's a cupcake!"

But ask yourself: does selfishness make us happy? No, it makes us grumpy. Does selfishness make things better? No, the more we think that way, the unhappier we become.

It is impossible to be selfish and happy at the same time. Have you heard of a book by Mary Baker Eddy called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"? There is a lot in this book that tells about being happy. At one point it says: "Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to share it" (pg. 57).

Isn't that true! When you have really great news, doesn't it just make you want to share it with your family and friends?

The key point is that goodness and happiness and love really are from God. They never let us down, because God never lets us down. They are dependable. Unshakable. Forever. They are always increasing. They never shrink. No matter how many changes take place in life. We know that God's goodness and love will always be there.

Spiritual thinking lets us be happy that something good is happening to people we love. That is wonderful. We want them to be happy. When we see this, we are ready to share in the good that is going on.

Your life will go through lots of changes. But God's goodness and love will only grow larger. There is enough for everyone.

Every good and perfect gift

comes down from the Father

who created all the lights in

the heavens. He is always the

same and never makes dark

shadows by changing.

James 1:17

Contemporary English Version

(c) Copyright 2000. The Christian Science Publishing Society

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to Cupcakes and sunlight
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/2000/0516/p23s1.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe