Today I went out to gather pinecones. I love the smell of cinnamon and I was thinking it would be neat to make my own cinnamon scented pinecones. So, I gathered them up and put them in a basket. And I couldn’t help but notice how lovely they were. For some reason, no one had ever told me how amazing a pinecone is. I almost went my whole life without really noticing one.

So, I found myself sitting in the yard looking down at pinecones. Have you ever looked down a pinecone? You really should.

I just can’t express to you how captivating they are. Those outer rims are all sappy and smell amazing. And just before that white sappy frosty stuff is this delicate little curve of brown–looks like someone took a paintbrush and did a little water coloring on them. Anyways, I was kind of lost in the admiration of a pinecone that I didn’t exactly notice a toddler approaching.

And much to my dismay, he nabbed my pinecone. And he was being really sweet at first until I politely asked for it back. 

At which point he took off running. And no begging on my part was about to get me my pinecone back. And that reminded me of an illustration my pastor gave in the Sunday message. It was called “The Property Laws of  a Toddler.” And they go something like this:

• If I like it, it’s mine.
• If it’s in my hand, it’s mine. 
• If I can take it from you, it’s mine.

• If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
• If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
• If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

• If it looks like mine, it’s mine.
• If I saw it first, it’s mine.

•  If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
• If it’s broken, it’s yours.

And before I knew it, he threw the pinecone. I guess he was done with it. He didn’t exactly offer to let me play with it again. I’m not sure where that pinecone went. It was my favorite one. (Sigh.)