This is a correct observation.
However, there is an element that can easily be overlooked in this seemingly innocuous scene.
The milk is chocolate.
You ask: Why does this matter? What possible point could this contain? How many waffle fries did you steal?
First, I must say that I am offended, truly offended, that you assume I would steal fries from my children's bags and somehow justify it in my mind that I was really helping them as if my consumption of their waffle fries was like me jumping in front of a bullet (a greasy, artery-clogging bullet). I won't even dignify your question with a response!
I will, however, point out what is going on here with the milk.
As young, first-time mom's, we tend to still hold on to the illusion of control. After all, if we wanted to sleep in, or go on a date w our spouse, etc. we could... BC (before children).
Then, we have our first child.
Unbeknownst to us, we are desperately clinging to our rapidly diminishing capacity to logically predict and plan how the day/night/week will go.
We begin by freaking out over all non-organic baby food (or shall we say poison puree?). I knew a girl once who (not exaggerating) FLIPPED OUT when her daughter was given a non-organic lollipop. Really you say? It's the same reason we disinfect our entire house weekly or play classical music or make the kids eat apples instead of fries or shun all TV in their presence lest their minds turn to mush before 2.
We are doing all these things because all the stuffing is coming out of our box, and we are bouncing on the top while somehow trying to strap the flaps with clear tape to permanently close what refuses to be contained.
We are in denial that we cannot control future cancer (organic food), intelligence (classical music), social acceptance (insistence on matching outfits), heartbreak (borderline smothering of child until they begin to shove us away at approximately 2), etc.
Then, we have our second child.
For most, this is the point at which you go flying across the room as your box explodes. Denial over!
You can't give the second organic food because the first is hoovering all the food in front of him/her, and you can no longer afford it. Not to mention that your second child managed to eat multiple bugs in one week and drank from the dogs water. Organic seems a leeeetle pointless at that moment.
Classical music sends your oldest child into fits of whiny boredom. And, let's be honest, you too.
Matching outfits? Just throw on a headband b/c we need to "hurry" into the store for milk, bread, and eggs to survive the next two days.
And TV...
Well, I'll just say that after the birth of the second (and third) child things tend to loosen up a little bit.
None of the ideals mentioned earlier are wrong, but they tend to be rooted in the wrong idea. That somehow every minute decision somehow shifts the ever-changing path of our child's destiny is a ton of pressure for a mother.
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Prov 16:9
We cannot control the future. We can make plans and be good stewards of the kiddos that God has blessed us with but, ultimately, God directs our steps. This is not a call to eat pizza and nuggets every night w/ MTV on in the other room but, rather, a call to relax that ball of tension inside where your kids are concerned-the one that co-mingles heavily with Mom Guilt.
How freeing is this verse?
Yes, make your plans!
Have the occasional chocolate milk with a healthy diet!
Don't beat yourself up if you arrive at your destination to realize your child is not buckled into his/her carseat!(purely hypothetical)
Know the future does not rest solely on your shoulders. We make choices but our good God is bigger than our box.
In light of all of this new understanding, I say...
...CHEERS to a little chocolate milk with our nuggets!
***For those who are curious, I recently observed the aforementioned mother's third child eating Starburst at a party...with the wrappers still on. This child is still alive and appears very healthy and normal.
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