3 minute read 
by Bethany Rees

The Daily Download

I have the pleasure of picking up my daughter Ashlyn from school every day (thank you basketball practice).

Her normal routine is to throw her 3 bags into the floorboard, throw her sweaty body in the car, lean her shotgun chair back into a reclining position, and then immediately spill the beans about the drama happening at her junior high. 

In a matter of seconds, my car goes from 0 to 100 in energy, activity, and speech. And I love it! 

Each and every car ride with either one of my children has become a cherished experience for me as a parent because my kids are way more engaging and talkative in the car than they are at home. 

The other day, as Ashlyn completed her “get in the minivan ritual,” her stories were full of romances worthy of being on the latest telenovela, pranks worthy of a 90’s Adam Sandler movie, and the usual saga of her hatred for math. 

The Sucker Proverb 

After the flood of updates, Ashlyn suddenly stopped with a quick breath and said: “I need to focus on the sucker in my mouth instead of the rock in my shoe.” 

She then continued talking but with all the positive information of the day. 

I almost slammed on my brakes because of the profound statement of wisdom that my 14 year old daughter just said that rivals any ancient proverb. 

While I didn’t slam the brakes, I did unapologetically cut her off mid-sentence and asked “What did you just say? About a sucker and a rock?” 

She repeated “I need to focus on the sucker in my mouth instead of the rock in my shoe.”

“What does that mean?” I asked. 

She proceeded to tell me the story below and how she had been focusing too much on the rock in her shoe (her struggles) instead of the sucker in her mouth (God’s blessings). 

Not only did that truth convict me big time, I was amazed at how my 14 year old had a better perspective on daily living with God than I did. 

Knowledge vs Wisdom

I was amazed at how quickly she applied the lesson she learned from that story. 

You see it’s not the knowledge that we are often lacking…it’s the application of the wisdom that comes from that knowledge. 

My teenager took some knowledge she had learned and immediately turned it into applied wisdom to adjust her mindset to gratitude mid-conversation. 

The phrase “sucker in my mouth” has now become a mantra in our house to remind us to adjust our thinking so that we focus on gratitude over having bad attitudes. 

As I share the original story below, my prayer for us this Thanksgiving season and every day before and after is that we set our eyes on Jesus so that we have a heart of gratitude.

Or in other words…

We start focusing on the suckers in our mouths instead of the rocks in our shoes. 

The Full "Sucker" Story

I eventually found the story she referenced on Pinterest…enjoy!

“Tonight, I gave each of the girls a rock and a sucker. I had them walk down the road and back with the rocks in their shoe and the sucker in their mouth. You should've heard their grumbling. They couldn’t walk normal because the rock was uncomfortable. They were limping and staggering just trying to get back to me. 

We then came back inside and I asked them what was it like for them to walk around like that. The answers varied but most talked about how hard it was to walk around with the rock in their shoe. Nobody mentioned how sweet the sucker was in their mouth. 

We often fail to realize God’s blessings because we put too much focus on the struggles of life.” 

Know Better. Do Better. Live Better. Gratitude is for Suckers.

Rocks before Sand!

Scripture: 

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 

Theme Song: 

Good Day by Forrest Frank

References Used:

• The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
• Pinterest Story on the Rock and the Sucker https://www.pinterest.com/pin/775815473359362000/