The Sock Monkey

“So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.” Luke 14:33

I was a thumb sucker as a child. I think I was in first grade before I eventually gave it up. It very much was possibly my first addiction. I had two enablers for this first addiction 1) my blankie and 2) my sock monkey.

When my mom discovered that my blankie was an enabler and that it also was becoming a germ infested vehicle, she did what all good mom’s do and sent my blankie to the blanket farm where it could run free with other blankets just like it.

The first thing I did when I noticed that my blankie was missing was to go through every lovie in my room and chose another enabler. The sock monkey won hands down. He was soft, cuddly, and his creator has even sewn an “S” on his had for “Shannon”. I was in love again.

But alas all good things must come to an end. If I wanted to grow up and be a big girl, I had to get rid of the sock monkey and sucking my thumb. My mom couldn’t help me this time because she knew if she did, I’d just pick up another substitute. As some point on my journey I realized that I didn’t need “monkie” to keep me safe and happy anymore. I was older and wiser.

I was growing up.

When Jesus asks us to give everything up to follow him, he wants us to be grown up Christians. He wants us to be safe and happy in him and to be wiser for it. No one else can do this for us. The choice is ours.

Until Everyone Hears,