The Lord of the Fries

"Uncle, those are my fries!"

My fingers froze in mid-grab as he shouted in angry disbelief. With his eyes blazing and his face flushed, he looked at me as though I had committed some cardinal sin.

All I wanted was a couple of fries.

Fries I had bought for him.

Fries I had ordered for him.

Fries I had driven him to Burger King to get.

He forgot that as far as his life is concerned, I am the Lord of the Fries.

Without me, he would not have any fries. I decide whether or not and how much he gets.

I don't actually need his fries. I could buy fries for myself – as much as I want.

I don't need his fries, but I do want him to learn something. I want him to understand that he is not the lord of his life. (He's not even the lord of his fries.) I want him to be generous and to share spontaneously, without the threat of punishment or the promise of reward. I want him to understand that his uncle will always provide for him. I want him to be able to recognize and to pray, as King David did, For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (I Chronicles 29:14b)

There is nothing we have that didn't come from God. That's what I want him to know.

That's what I need to remember as well.

I am not the lord of my life. God is the one who has given me my life, my time, my talents, my treasures. God wants me to be generous and to share spontaneously. God wants me to understand that God, my Father, will always provide for me.

So I grab a few more fries. I think he's understood the lesson.

"Uncle! That's my drink!"

Andrew Choi - Lighting Team