Rewards!

Today I received an email from Office Depot with the title "Reward Status". Upon opening it I saw these big, bold, red words: YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO REWARDS! Ooohhh....Tell me more! "You need $7.79 in Rewards to receive a Reward card." Ok...but what will my reward be? I scrolled down to see that my current "reward" amount after spending another $7.79 will be $2.21! LOL.

So I have to spend more to get a smaller reward? I don't think so! I want a bigger reward! There, I said it. What makes me think/believe/expect a reward? Perhaps this all started as a kid when I knew there would always be a toy surprise in my Cracker Jacks? (and btw, as an adult white female, I'm now feeling a tad uncomfortable with the name of this product.) And yet, I know this sense of entitlement runs much deeper.

Does spending money at a box store qualify me for a reward? Has the idea of receiving a reward lost its value? After all, isn't a reward something given in return for something accomplished? I seem to be walking around with a "She Who Must be Rewarded" bumper sticker plastered across the back of my head.

And do I not expect God to reward me? Scripture is filled with reward scenarios... James & John wanted to know what Jesus was going to do for them in Heaven, and the parables of Christ are filled with talk of rewards - all of which brings me back to Advent...

Our ultimate reward is coming...we must continue in this waiting process....and it won't be like anything a candy company's marketing team could design - it won't be flashy, there won't be any fanfare - just a child, born in a stinky barn to an unwed teen....bringing with Him the greatest reward of all - Himself!

p.s. i used a photo of cracker jacks because a picture of office depot just wasn't that exciting:)