I appreciated a Facebook post a church member shared with me recently. It asked, “Notice anything wrong with the packaging?” There was a picture of a package of Great Value hotdog buns, but the package was clearly labeled, “Hamburger Buns.”
I didn’t catch it right away, but in just a few seconds the smile came to my face and I chuckled. Renee followed up with this: “I got what I wanted, but not what it said. It reminded me of something. Do people like us because of what they see in us or because of what we say we are? Food for thought!”
It’s these simple little experiences in life that do give us food for thought. Have you ever presented yourself as someone you are really not? You went out on a date wearing your older brother’s favorite shirt and cologne, driving your dad’s car, with all the single dollar bills from the top drawer waded up and wrapped in a couple of Andrew Jacksons so you could impress the young lady with your style and success, but that’s really not who you are? Some would call it false advertising.
Really, who are we on the inside? Doesn’t that eventually show itself in some way? Doesn’t time reveal all things? The Bible says it this way, “Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
There’s something to admire in a person who is genuinely the same inside and out. I would call them a person of good character. That is a very attractive feature of a person who can be a good friend or partner for life.
I’m glad Renee got what she wanted. She was sharp enough to see the difference between what was inside the package and what was on the outside. May we be that discerning when it comes to our personal relationships.
