toddler laws

toddler laws


Have you been around any 3-year-olds lately? Their view on what is whose is pretty simple. Check this out.

Property Law As Viewed By A Toddler

1.  If I like it, it’s mine.

2.  If it’s in my hand, it’s mine.

3.  If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

4.  If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.

5.  If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.

6.  If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

7.  If it looks like it’s mine, it’s mine.

8.  If I saw it first, it’s mine.

9.  If I can see it, it’s mine.

10.  If I think it’s mine, it’s mine.

11.  If I want it, it’s mine.

12.  If I “need” it, it’s mine (yes, I know the difference between “want” and “need”!).

13.  If I say it’s mine, it’s mine.

14.  If you don’t stop me from playing with it, it’s mine.

15.  If you tell me I can play with it, it’s mine.

16.  If it will upset me too much when you take it away from me, it’s mine.

17.  If I (think I) can play with it better than you can, it’s mine.

18.  If I play with it long enough, it’s mine.

19.  If you are playing with something and you put it down, it’s mine.

20.  If it’s broken, it’s yours (no wait, all the pieces are mine). *


Well, humorous as all this is, I’m ashamed to say I find too much of these values about stuff still lurking in me.  What about you?

I wish instead I could fully and finally operate on the principles expressed by these statements:

“I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ. If anything will advance the interests of that kingdom, it shall be given away or kept only as by giving or keeping of it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time and eternity.” +

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” #

“Hold everything in your hands loosely, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” %

“The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” ^^

Blessings,

Paul


*  “Restating Implied, Perspective and Statutory Easements,” Michael V. Hernandez.  Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal, (American Bar Association, Spring 2005).
+  David Livingstone, Scottish missionary-doctor to Africa in the 1800’s.  http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/ilivingstone.html.
#  Saul of Tarsus, Philippians 3:8, NLT.
%  Corrie Ten Boom, holocaust survivor, quoted by Charles Swindoll in Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p.114
^^  Job, after he had lost every material possession, Job 1:21.


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