Peeling Garlic

I need to peel garlic today. Ready to help me? First we need to break the garlic bulb apart, like this. This is fun! There are a lot of baby garlic on this one. Yes, each bulb has a lot of cloves in it. And each clove is wrapped in its own paper skins. We can’t use them with the skin on, so the next thing is to peel them. I’ll cut off the ends, and you can rub them with this pad to loosen the skin. It isn’t coming off very well, you say. That’s true, the skin likes to stick on tight—try folding the rubber pad over it and rubbing gently. See? Now it is starting to come off! When its all peeled, you can put the garlic in this bowl.

It is hard work to peel garlic, you say, as we rub the skins off the tiny cloves. It will take a long time to get them all done. Yes, but it is important work. We can’t use the garlic until they are peeled, just like God can’t use us unless we are ready to give up our own way and trust Him. When we are thinking of ourselves and what we want, we are like a little garlic clove, all wrapped up in our own skin. We don’t feel like obeying our parents or serving others. So how does God peel our selfishness off? Sometimes I get disciplined, you say, or have to do more work. It isn’t easy, and it doesn’t feel good, does it? But if we are willing to humble ourselves and be sorry, then God can help us get rid of the bad attitudes. What if you try to hold on to your own way and don’t want to change? I get into more trouble, you say, rubbing at a stubborn garlic. Yes, just like the garlic has to be rubbed harder to get the skin off.

See how smooth and white this garlic clove is now? It is beautiful and useful—ready to be pressed and cooked into something good. Garlic toast is my favorite, you say. Can we make some? That sounds yummy! And do you know what? When you let go of your own way to cheerfully do your job or help someone, you will be ready to be part of God’s cooking. That’s funny, you say. God doesn’t cook. You don’t think so? I believe that God is always cooking up good things—blessings and encouragement, and help for people in trouble. I’m glad to be part of the good things He’s doing. Instead of complaining and arguing for my own way, I want to be part of His goodness. How about you?