Instant Gratification

Somehow this didn't post back in June, so here it is for your reading pleasure!

A friend of mine posted a small experiment she did with the kids in her house recently, called Don't Eat the Marshmallow. She recently was exposed to this video and when the kiddos saw it they decided to try it too. Take a moment and watch this video now.

Fascinating stuff, right? How many of you have already mentally surveyed your cupboards searching for some marshmallows to try this experiment out for yourself. I'll be trying it with my girls later this afternoon, but since I don't have marshmallows on hand I'll be supplementing some other equally enticing treat, but that's not really the point.

Success. Delayed Gratification. Interesting thoughts, right? Those who were able to understand at 4 the benefits of delayed gratification went on to be successful in other areas. In a world revolving around instant gratification, I thought this required a bit more discussion. What isn't instant these days? We have instant entertainment, instant coffee, instant messages, instant food, instant wealth, instant privilege, instant results. We want instant answers to prayer, instant spiritual maturity, instantly happily ever after.

Success isn't built in an instance. Success takes hard work, discipline, goals, and the day to day of working things out. It often is supported by encouragement and comradery. Sometimes this means daily gratification, but it's hardly ever instant.

As parents are we teaching these truths to our children or are we supplying their every need? Am I modeling hard work for them, or do I expect to be handed everything my heart desires? Sometimes creating success means accepting delayed gratification.

And now I'm not quite sure where I was going with this. So I'm leaving it to you, share your thoughts in the comment section.