Beyond Ourselves
In this Post…
- Cyber Month Sale (Apparently)
- New Article: Beyond Ourselves •
- Please review Daniel and the Sun Sword On AMAZON! •
- Book Trailer •
Cyber Month Sale (Apparently)
Order a copy of D&SS from my website between now and December 20th and
receive a signed copy at a 30% discount!
Beyond Ourselves
The glass doors slide open and you and your child are met by a tired, old woman. “Welcome to Walmart,” she grunts. You absently smile and walk into the store, drawing your little dear closer as people jostle past you. Where Autumn paraphernalia once hung from the ceiling or lined the impulse-buy shelves, you now see Christmas decorations and flashy toys. Quickening your pace, you make a move towards the pharmacy, but notice resistance. Cringing, you hesitantly glance down and see your child’s eyes fixed on the latest Sofia the First Magical Talking Amulet. With a quick prayer, you tug again. Nothing.
“Can I get that amulet, Mommy?” she asks, letting go of your hand while walking towards the shelf where Sofia’s deceptively innocent grin taunts you from the front of the box, as though saying, “Good luck. She’s mine!”
“Honey, you can’t get that today. Maybe we’ll get it for you for Christmas.”
“Maybe?” Sofia throws back. “This is a limited edition magical talking amulet!”
“But I want it now!”
“We don’t have the money today,” you say quietly. Then with more authority, “Come on, we have to get a lot of things and get home before your dad gets off work.” You grab her hand and begin walking. She follows while craning her neck until the amulet is out of sight.
“This isn’t over,” you imagine Sofia calling to you.
Looking down, you see your daughter frowning in concentration. “But, Grandma gave me five dollars for my birthday last month. Why can’t I use some of that to get the amulet?”
“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” Sofia mocks from the Sofia the First clearance Halloween toothbrush stand you pass on your way to grab some deodorant.
“Because you already used most of that to buy the Sofia the First Columbus Day Go Fish Cards. You only have fifty cents left.”
“Then what about that Sofia glow-in-the-dark chapstick?”
You feel a migraine coming on. “Not today. We’re too busy, and besides it’s…good grief $20 chaptsick?”
“Healthy lips are happy lips! Can you really put a price on your health?” Sofia winks at you and then blows a kiss to your daughter. She doesn’t notice.
“You’re mean.” She begins to tear up and folds her arms.
Certainly she wouldn’t throw another fit. Isn’t she tired out from the three she just threw in Publix? you ask yourself.
“Not when you give her my Sofia the First Super Star Vitamins every morning,” Sofia laughs.
You ignore the throbbing pain in your head and grab your daughter by the arm. “Let’s go, we’ve got to go get some groceries now.”
“But Mom!” she whines, trailing behind you. “I want that chapst…”
For a moment, the sudden silence comes like a wave of relief. But then you realize your fatal mistake when you see Sofia waving at you from the amulet shelf again. Why didn’t I take the long way around the store?
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Sofia replies happily. “I’m stocked in the toy, hunting, and craft departments too. Also, there’s a surprise waiting for you on the cereal aisle.”
“I want the amulet!” your daughter suddenly shrieks behind you, pulls away from your hand and throws herself on the ground. After making several wriggling motions, she ends up under the amulet shelves.
“I….WANT…SOFIA!”
With everyone watching, your head exploding, and the growing realization that if you don’t give in, you’re very likely to experience what many psychiatrists are now calling Post-Sofia-the-First Psychosis, you grab the amulet and your flailing daughter and proceed to the checkout line.
The groceries can wait, you think, and then begin planning what to tell your husband about supper.
“It’s only food,” Sofia replies in comforting tones. “At least your darling little girl is happy.”
***
Let’s be honest with ourselves, even though this is fiction, we’ve all experienced the store tantrum at least once. Kids can be just as materialistic as the rest of us; and, with children becoming some of our biggest consumers…READ MORE.
Review D&SS on Amazon!
If you have read Daniel and the Sun Sword (and liked it), please go to my Amazon page and leave a review!
Book Trailer
Silver Medalist / Cyber Weekend Sale / New Article
In this Post…
- Silver Medalist •
- Cyber Week Sale •
- New Article: Words of Eternal Life •
- Please review Daniel and the Sun Sword On AMAZON! •
- Book Trailer •
Silver Medalist
Daniel and the Sun Sword brought home a silver medal!
Thanks to everyone who voted.
Cyber Week Sale!
Order a copy of D&SS from my website between now and December 3rd and
receive a signed copy at a 30% discount!
Words of Eternal Life
John 6:68 “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Paul writes in Romans that my destiny as a Christian is to be conformed to the image of Christ—to spend my life allowing the Holy Spirit to bend me, mold me, and shape me until I resemble the Son of God. I should, in fact, always be aware of some sin or bad habit that God is targeting for change. Change, however, is hard. After all, as a culture, we do tend toward cynicism and self-centeredness, both of which inhibit my willingness to die to myself and submit to what God wants. So, when He begins putting pressure on me to crucify the deeds of the flesh, I have often squirmed my way to the edge of the Holy Spirit’s presence, where the compelling and louder voice of the flesh eases my guilt by excusing, rationalizing, and watering-down my sins. But when I am honest with myself, I know that God will not settle for this, that He wants total submission and transformation. Christ’s life made that…READ MORE
Review D&SS on Amazon!
If you have read Daniel and the Sun Sword (and liked it), please go to my Amazon page and leave a review!
Book Trailer
Nathan Lumbatis 