Can Spitting Out my Gum Change My Life?
I spit my gum over the railing of a bridge while out for a fall run. It hit the surface of the river and then wiggled like a little ghost as it drifted to the bottom.
It was probably the one-hundredth piece of gum I’ve launched into the wilderness but this time was different.
Instead of feeling content with its resting place, I felt horrible. While watching my little ghosty gum head to the bottom of a river, I realized it’s no different than the jerk I watched toss a cigarette butt out of their car window while driving to the town park. Both are harmful to the natural environment that I love so dearly.
When I paid more attention to the little decisions in my life, I started to notice a BIG impact on the important things in my life. Sadly, my gum will probably kill a fish (or a squirel, bird, etc.). I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t spit my gum into the natural environment anymore and will dispose of it properly from now on.
Well, my friend, be careful what you wish for!
It was so hard to remember - I skyrocketed one or two more pieces into the woods before I remembered and naturally felt sad so I picked them up with a leaf and carried them for my whole run. I tried to remember to put my gum wrapper in my pocket so I could spit it out when it was all chewed out.
Since then, I still don’t always remember my wrapper and I have had a few unfortunate mishaps with pocket-gum making a sticky mess in the dryer, but I am so much happier!
Why is that? How can something so simple be so impactful?
Through my research on habits, mindfulness, wellness, and more I discovered a few key take aways about the impact of making small changes for a big impact:
Even though is seems inconvenient at times, repeatedly choosing the right thing, even in the small stuff, has a BIG impact on the important stuff. 1. Growing in Faith: The more I learn about my faith in God, the more my desire to be a better person grows
I feel fantastically accomplished when I meet goals for personal development, no matter how small they may be.
According to Joyce Meyer, especially in her book, Making Good Habits; Breaking Bad Habits, she mentions discipline and a willingness to listen to your heart in all things but especially in the little things, like properly parking your grocery cart or putting things back where they belong in the store.
Once we know the path to getting more blessings in our lives, and we follow God’s directions, we will have more and more joy.
Side Note: I attempted to teach this concept to twelve-year-olds; it was awesome. We were reading about Pharoah and how he didn’t listen when Moses told him God’s commands despite the warnings. After the locusts destroyed anything the hail hadn’t decimated, the frogs hadn’t tainted, and the gnats hadn’t consumed, Pharaoh cries to Moses, “...please forgive my sin only this once [more], and pray and entreat the Lord your God, so that He will remove this [plague of] death from me.” (Exodus 10:29) According to my skeptical twelve-year-olds 🙄, clearly, their livestock isn’t dying at this moment so what’s the point, Mrs. Link?
My sweet preteens and beautiful readers, the point is this:
What is God telling me to do that I’m not fully listening to? End Side Note
I feel like I am always asking for one more forgiveness. Feeling mad at someone, being not-fully honest, gossipping, avoiding responsibility, and __, and ___, …
What am I not doing that is preventing me from the true joy I seek? Why am I not where I feel l am meant to be yet? Maybe the answer lies in the little things.
2. Choosing the Right Thing even when it’s inconvenient: From mothering to self-care to relationships
Let’s go back to my twelve-year-olds first. They have a short vision of the world beyond their own noses and it typically ends at the noses of their peers. I love this part because they are absolutely mind-blown when I throw questions like “How many of you have seen recess toys on the ground on the way inside and didn’t go pick them up?” at them. 🤯 “Whoa! How did you know I do that?!” Then I add more and they really get talking:
Do you move over in the hall when someone is walking by or do you not because you were there first?
Do you walk into the kitchen and interrupt your parents to whine, “I’m hungry,” or do you wait to speak and then ask, “Can I help with dinner tonight?”
Are you mad when you are told to pick up a toy that you didn’t play with even though your parents are constantly picking things that don’t belong to them?
Now for us, as mothers and wives:
😡 Do I get mad about the clothes in the bathroom but I’m too busy to pick my own clothes up off my bedroom floor??
🫣 Am I judgemental and angry when people throw cigarettes out the car window but feel like its ok to spit my Trident into a pristine river?
🍷 Am I too tired to read a book but not too tired to go out for wine with girlfriends?
🥴 Am I all sweets and smiles when someone compliments my children at the store but inside I’m super-annoyed at the kids for begging for more Chex Mix?
🍫 Is it ok if I tell the kids no more sweets but eat half a bag of chocolate chips after they go to bed? (oops, I did it again)
👩❤️👨 Do I avoid intimacy with my husband because I like my me-time?
🛒 What happens if I jam my shopping cart up on a curb instead of taking it to the cart corral?
I’m going to be honest: this post has been hard to write. It hurts my pride to become so aware of the choices that are holding me back from immense greatness. I am not writing this post because I’ve figured it out; I’m writing because I haven’t figured it out but God wants me to. I just ate half a bag of chocolate chips two evenings ago.
I am determined to set my pride, selfishness, and negativity aside for the blessings that come from it: Joy, peace, balance, serenity, and love.
3. Get Curious: Embrace growth with grace, not condemnation
Pay attention to the little things you are choosing that might be getting in the way of your growth then do what you know is right. How do you feel afterward?
Since watching my gum fluttering through the river water, I haven’t spit my gum out into anything other than the garbage. The first couple of weeks were a challenge! Silly, I know, but true. I had to remember to bring my wrapper if I was going outside; I had to 🤢 touch a public trash can 🤢; I had to keep my gum in my mouth for an hour after I was tired of it.
Instead of feeling ashamed, condemned, embarrassed, or avoiding when the Holy Spirit reminds you of right from wrong, adopt an open mind of possibilities. Like children who benefit from correction, we do, too! Correction leads to change which leads to growth. I remember as a coach that students who never listened eventually stopped getting as much instruction because they refused to grow. Be a go-getter, be curious, be your best cheerleader, and remember to extend lovingkindness just as you would to your best friend who was seeking a similar goal.
Saying "yes" to the little things, like a family bike ride, has made a BIG impact on the important things, like relationships with my kids. All the little “have-to-dos” are little obediences that bring me closer to my goals. Because if I can take care of my gum, a daily workout habit, reading to my kids, saying yes when I can, saying no when I should, or even just picking up my clothes, what else can God trust me with over time? A speaking career? Working for myself and helping people all over the world? Sending my kids to any college they want? An amazing friendship with my children when they’re grown?
I am so excited to hear, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master’… For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance.”
Like parenting our children, as they earn trust through small acts of obedience leading to being trusted with bigger privileges, the Lord gives us opportunities to earn more and more trust leading to bigger and bigger blessings.
4. Journal
What is your big life goal right now? What is the ultimate why behind it? Now, what are the little things that might be getting in the way?
If I want a new home, am I taking care of the leaves in the yard, cleaning the floors, and maintaining the mechanics of my current home?
If I want a new job, am I being nice, productive, and respectful to people at my current job?
If I want a happier morning with my kids, am I giving them the tools we need to create that?
Devotional to consider:
“...if you diligently* listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God.”
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2 but I highly recommend reading the whole chapter!)
*While writing, I noticed that diligently is added to listen. Whoa. 😳 How we do our actions is as important as doing them.
Resources to Keep Exploring:
Watch The Prince of Egypt with the kids
Read Deuteronomy Chapter 28 in the amplified bible: it’s motivating and frightening and entertaining all in one! I’m so glad Jesus came and God no longer punishes us for our sins. Now he whisper-booms us into wanting to follow his commandments.
