The Candy Economy

By Shea Fite, The Narrows, April 7th, 2010

 

My little tykes have no idea that inside the snug boundaries my home they have created their own little economy. It’s pretty hilarious really. When I was in college I learned the classic definition of economics: “The study of how the forces of supply and demand allocate scarce resources.” It is so with my children. In their case all of the elements are present; territory, ownership, scarce resources, luxuries, wars, and politics. Natural resources are also fought over (Mommy and Daddy). The whole analogy blows my mind. And I think that inside this child sized economy we can all agree that the currency is candy. Yes, you got it, to my kids, that sugary sweet goodness often found on special days and fully capable of rotting their baby teeth clean out of the heads is the scarce resource of their economy.

 

And nothing intrigues me more that the execution of this economy on holidays. Of course this is when the scarce resource is most accessible. On the day after Easter, my six year old daughter comes to me asking “Daddy, what is Isaac eating?” I was making a PBJ and looked up to see my three year old son quietly in the corner cranking through a package of Gummy Bunnies. They were Easter theme chewy bunnies. I think there were three or four of them left (out of forty). Each was the size of a half dollar. They were pretty good too. Not too sweet. I said “looks like Gummy Bunnies” as I spread peanut butter. The predictable question ensued, “Can I have some?” Wanting to test and see if any maturity had appeared since a similar situation a birthday or two ago, I said “Go ask him.”

 

I think most parents out there hope and wish that sharing would come naturally to all their children. In the Candy Economy, I think we can all predict what happens next. It wasn’t pretty.

 

I have moved on to the jelly and was thinking about pouring myself a glass of milk. Isaac, moving fast, is chewing on half of another one. He has sensed danger and was experiencing the fear of loss. His head shakes- still no verbal response. Then Isaac says “No, Isa.”, with his head shaking and jaw now working on the last half of the gummy bunny.

 

Finishing that gummy bunny left only one single bunny in the bag. The forces of supply crashed against the emotions of demand. I think the first shot happened somewhere in between me putting the Jelly side with Peanut Butter side. It was so quick. Isabelle grabbed the last one right out Isaac’s hand and put the whole thing in her mouth!

 

I looked up and Isaac’s face was twisting into a wrinkled little mess. He squealed and raises his voice, “Noooooo, Isa!”

 

I saw the blatant theft go on right before my eyes! I looked at Isa and said, “Why did you do that?” I was frustrated at her for the snatch. Her words spewed out. “Daddy, Isaac got more than me!” and then the ugly little quip which I despise followed “It’s not fair!”

 

My face went red and I sent her to the naughty step. That’s the place on the stairs in our home where naughty children go, where they cannot play and are otherwise chastised. In the little tyke economy it’s where you go for criminal behavior. On the way she is screaming and sobbing “But Daddy! You don’t understand….” I am looking around wondering if the neighbors could hear. I am torn on whether to punish Isaac for not sharing.

 

And all week I have been meditating on the idea that perhaps my adult world is really no different. Wars are fought over such matters. I began to meditate and ask myself some pretty serious questions about my desire for wealth and how it is not unlike the gummy bunnies. How do I respond when finances don’t go my way? What tactics do I employ in order to gain the currency of the day and the things that it buys? Do the desire of these things bring me closer to my relationships or send me into isolation? What is God’s plan and purposes for those things? Is there a greater purpose? I am meditating on the idea of greed.

 

The word is an elusive one. It is not readily identified in our culture because for the most part, everyone in our culture has their basic needs met. We rarely fight over basic needs. Also, since credit is so readily available, we rarely if ever fight over each other’s money. In our culture, where earning wealth is a measure of a man, greed is a naughty word. Some political leaders use it to manipulate the masses. Others proudly swallow the idea whole and make it a religion where any behavior is justifiable in light of getting financially ahead. I believe I understand why the word is so elusive- it reveals the heart.

 

And Jesus had a lot to say about the condition of our hearts. I am lead to the Word of God for answers.

 

 

And this one lets me know I need God’s help in understanding my own heart.

 

 

So greed is a heart matter not a resources issue. Just because we have a lot does not mean we are greedy. The converse is true, when we have very little and act on impulse and take from others even to get only what we need, this is greedy. So how do we tackle these deep hearted issues as it relates to money and the things that we own? I think it is found in the idea to hold those things that I have loosely, submitting them to God and his Lordship. So how do we do that?

 

 

The most obvious lesson that we learn from Jesus’ words regarding the young rich official is to not hold onto anything that would separate us from God and others. I don’t read that we should be poor or rich. I read that we should readily give it away, whether it is a widow’s mite or a young rich man’s gold. God owns it all anyway! He doesn’t care about it. He cares about our hearts.

 

This Easter I also saw my three year old give the prize egg to his cousin even though he found it first, readily sharing the best. My children show me something about how to allocate scarce resources by watching their candy economy. They show me that I need to hold it loosely and find joy in earning it, helping others and steward it well so that I can help even more.