Skittles and my Soul

I had a teacher in elementary school who gave us two skittles once a week. "One for your head and one for your heart," she'd say. I think this was the first time I learned the lesson, "Your soul is what matters."  

I think about this lesson when I eat Skittles.  I remember this wonderful teacher who taught me that a triangle is the strongest shape and that being smart makes me a wonderful person, not a nerd.  When I dwell on her memory, I appreciate  that she didn't have to tell me what was important.  She showed me by her actions.  She let me figure things out.  She never sat us down and said, "The reason I give you Skittles is not to reward you for having a head and for having a heart.  None of you had control over that.  The reason I give you Skittles is to make you realize and remember that I don't reward you for what you do in this class but for who you are.  I give you Skittles as a silly way to show you what I think matters and what I think you should think matters."  But without ever saying much, this is the lesson she taught us.  

I asked her a couple of times why she gave us two Skittles every week.  She repeated, "One for your head, one for your heart."  I wasn't satisfied with that answer; I asked again.  "But whyyyyy?"  When all she gave me was a smile, I just sighed as I left the room.  Years later, walking around campus eating a handful of Skittles, I finally realized what she was teaching us.  Your soul is what matters.  And how sweet a truth it is in my mind :)  

This is the most important thing.  Not what you do, but who you are.  Your mind and your heart, the you deep down.  The you that most of the world doesn't get to know.  

You not only have a soul, it is the very essence of you.  You are a soul.  The state and character of our souls is what needs to be cultivated, exercised, and valued.  


Train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.