Sippy Cup Lessons

Red, green, yellow, and blue were the colors of our first set of Tupperware bell tumblers with the white sipper seal tops. When my two older sons were toddlers, I always gave the oldest boy, Nathanael, the green cup, and his little brother, Nicholas, the yellow one. When their baby brother, Jonathan, was old enough to drink out of a cup, I let him alternate between the blue and red ones.

To this day, even though they are both in college, Nathanael's favorite color is green and Nicholas' is yellow. For years, Jonathan did not have a specific favorite color. I wonder if it was because he didn't always use the same colored cup. However, he has since decided green is his favorite.

These brightly colored cups have been with us for many years. In a day’s time they might travel from the breakfast table, to the occasional lunchtime picnic in the backyard, and back to the dinner table for dinner. Of course, they were always topped with those wonderful sipper seals that often saved the floor from a milk bath.

The sipper seals have been gone for years, no longer needed. Those children who may have spilled their juice or milk have grown up. Yet the cups are still around. They are great for mixing up fruit and yogurt or filling with granola for a quick snack. Every now and then, as I notice one of these cups, I recall my baby sitting in a highchair, little hands holding one and lifting it up for a sip. Those cups have been with us for 20 years or so, and the little children who drank from them are grown.

A lasting color identification began with those cups. When we drove through the teller window at the bank, each child chose the same color lollipop as their favorite Tupperware cup. It prevented a lot of problems. When school began, and the pack of new pencils was opened, we always knew who got which pencils. They were equally divided, automatically personalized, and easily identified. After all, they were the same colors as the cups.

I don't usually reach for one of those little cups, unless for water to swallow my vitamins. A cup is a small thing, yet it can be filled many times to nourish and quench thirst. Those cups provided much of that for my children over the years. Now they provide a quick memory; a flashback to three little boys around our table.

I am reminded that each of us, no matter what age, needs spiritual nourishment, so we can grow in our relationship with the Lord. We never outgrow that. We need to drink from the Living Water.

Jesus answered and said until her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 4:10 KJV

Our times with God need to be not just a memory of something we recall in our past, but a daily occurrence. As we spend time with Him regularly, it will affect our character and growth in relationship with our Lord. He needs to be the One we drink from and from Whom we receive nourishment. He needs to be what we desire more than anything or anyone. He must be favored above all.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Psalm 73:25 KJV

Copyright © 2009 Sherrie Brouhard. Used by permission.