FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: CHINESE NEW YEAR EDITION

There’s always that one snack in the black candy box that never quite needs a refill: Guazi, or melon seed.

Why? Because it’s so much work! You’ve got to strategically position the waxy seed between your teeth, on its side, and bite down at just the right angle and with just the right strength, lest you crush it entirely.

And what do you get after half a minute of effort? A tiny little heart of the seed, lacking the sweetness of nian gao, the crunch of love letters or the buttery goodness of pineapple tarts. Besides, you leave a huge mess behind: Fragments of saliva-soaked shell scattered all over table and floor.

Touch your heart. If you weren’t using it to deflect conversations, kill time in front of the TV, or fidget away your boredom, would you even bother with it?

Guazi is a training ground for patience. When we understand the value of what we’re working hard for, waiting is a small and worthwhile struggle.

As any experienced guazi eater would testify, the more guazi you persevere through, the better it gets. Tough as it is to open, the little seed grows on you. Relatively unprocessed, rich in protein and healthy nutrients, it can be munched on with a clear conscience.

But above all, guazi is a training ground for patience. When we understand the value of what we’re working hard for, waiting is a small and worthwhile struggle.

In the 30 seconds you spend peeling each guazi this CNY, exercise your patience – not just for the simple goodness of the seed, but also for the hope we have in Christ. He makes all things beautiful in His time. No matter how tough a nut you are to crack.

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. (Genesis 29:20)