A Gift That's Demanded...
...Is no gift at all.
I heard that phrase today and it struck me at my core. It was a line in a VeggieTales movie, of all things! As I was putting away the boys' laundry today I overheard part of the movie they were watching. It's called "A Snoodle's Tale" and tells the story of a "snoodle" who is weighed down by the impressions and pictures others have of him. Ultimately it directs you to look to God to find your worth, not others. I certainly struggle with this in my own life and was stunned to find so perfect a depiction of this battle with ourselves and others in a children's video! The dialogue at the end of the show was so impacting that I included it.
Dear boy,"
...Said the man,
"these look nothing like you!
Then into the fire the pictures he threw
And rose from his chair, saying,
"Wait there - you'll see
That what you need most is a picture from me!"
The Snoodle sat patiently, sipping his tea.
Then from a room in the back he returned -
And said,
"Little Snoodle, it's time that you learned
What you really look like!"
And he threw off the sheet.
What the boy saw warmed him right to his feet.
The boy in the portrait looked older and strong.
With wings on his back that were sturdy and long
And a look in his eye, both courageous and free.
"Sir,"
Asked the boy,
"Are you saying that's - me?
I'd like to believe it, but, sir, I'm afraid to."
"I know who you are,"
...He replied,
"for I made you."
"I built the tower and set it in motion.
I planted the meadow - put fish in the ocean.
And I feed the finches, though most Snoodles doubt it,
Not one of them falls that I don't know about it."
"I've seen you fall down in the mud and the goo.
I've seen all you've done, and all you will do.
I gave you your pack, and your paints and your wings.
I chose them for you. They're your special things."
"The Snoodle-kazoo is so you can sing
About colors in Autumn or flowers in Spring.
I gave you your brushes in hopes that you'd see
How using them, you could make pictures for me."
"Most of the Snoodles,"
The old one said sadly,
"Just use their paints to make others feel badly."
The young Snoodle pondered the things he'd been told.
Then wondering something, grew suddenly bold -
"But sir, if you made this incredible land,
Can't you make Snoodles obey your command?"
The big one smiled warmly, then said to the small,
"A gift that's demanded is no gift at all."
With that the small Snoodle reached into his pack,
And pulled out the picture he'd made 10 miles back.
"They're Far-lillies, sir, from over the bridge."
The old one beamed bright and said,
"That's for my fridge!"
After the small Snoodle's picture was hung,
The old one bent down to the face of the young
And said,
"Here's what you look like; Here's how I see you.
Keep this in your pack and you'll find it will free you
From all of the pictures and all of the lies
That others make up just to cut down your size."
"And lastly, your wings. You know what they're for!
But not just to fly, son, I want you to soar!"
While perhaps the main point is not the phrase "A gift that's demanded is no gift at all", I found it a suitable answer to a question I've pondered as well. God's heart is so good towards us. I love how He puts little reminders of that in the oddest of places, at the most impacting times...like during the mindless but necessary chore of laundry.
I heard that phrase today and it struck me at my core. It was a line in a VeggieTales movie, of all things! As I was putting away the boys' laundry today I overheard part of the movie they were watching. It's called "A Snoodle's Tale" and tells the story of a "snoodle" who is weighed down by the impressions and pictures others have of him. Ultimately it directs you to look to God to find your worth, not others. I certainly struggle with this in my own life and was stunned to find so perfect a depiction of this battle with ourselves and others in a children's video! The dialogue at the end of the show was so impacting that I included it.
Dear boy,"
...Said the man,
"these look nothing like you!
Then into the fire the pictures he threw
And rose from his chair, saying,
"Wait there - you'll see
That what you need most is a picture from me!"
The Snoodle sat patiently, sipping his tea.
Then from a room in the back he returned -
And said,
"Little Snoodle, it's time that you learned
What you really look like!"
And he threw off the sheet.
What the boy saw warmed him right to his feet.
The boy in the portrait looked older and strong.
With wings on his back that were sturdy and long
And a look in his eye, both courageous and free.
"Sir,"
Asked the boy,
"Are you saying that's - me?
I'd like to believe it, but, sir, I'm afraid to."
"I know who you are,"
...He replied,
"for I made you."
"I built the tower and set it in motion.
I planted the meadow - put fish in the ocean.
And I feed the finches, though most Snoodles doubt it,
Not one of them falls that I don't know about it."
"I've seen you fall down in the mud and the goo.
I've seen all you've done, and all you will do.
I gave you your pack, and your paints and your wings.
I chose them for you. They're your special things."
"The Snoodle-kazoo is so you can sing
About colors in Autumn or flowers in Spring.
I gave you your brushes in hopes that you'd see
How using them, you could make pictures for me."
"Most of the Snoodles,"
The old one said sadly,
"Just use their paints to make others feel badly."
The young Snoodle pondered the things he'd been told.
Then wondering something, grew suddenly bold -
"But sir, if you made this incredible land,
Can't you make Snoodles obey your command?"
The big one smiled warmly, then said to the small,
"A gift that's demanded is no gift at all."
With that the small Snoodle reached into his pack,
And pulled out the picture he'd made 10 miles back.
"They're Far-lillies, sir, from over the bridge."
The old one beamed bright and said,
"That's for my fridge!"
After the small Snoodle's picture was hung,
The old one bent down to the face of the young
And said,
"Here's what you look like; Here's how I see you.
Keep this in your pack and you'll find it will free you
From all of the pictures and all of the lies
That others make up just to cut down your size."
"And lastly, your wings. You know what they're for!
But not just to fly, son, I want you to soar!"
While perhaps the main point is not the phrase "A gift that's demanded is no gift at all", I found it a suitable answer to a question I've pondered as well. God's heart is so good towards us. I love how He puts little reminders of that in the oddest of places, at the most impacting times...like during the mindless but necessary chore of laundry.
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