The Daily Survival Kit

July wasn’t all bad.� My niece turned 10!� Do you remember the thrill of double digits?� I do.� I thought I was so important, so worldly and above everyone 9 and under.� With that in mind, I thought I would give her a little something fun to go with the Best Buy gift card she wanted (zzzzzz).� I had an idea for something extra special but, per the usual, I procrastinated and ran out of time.� It all worked out, though, because what I did was just as sweet, in my very humble opinion.� It’s nothing new, and you’ve probably seen these before, but I’ll go ahead and yammer away as if I’ve just invented the wheel.

I made her a Daily Survival Kit.

What’s in a Daily Survival Kit? Funny you should ask! [yammer, yammer, yammer…]

• A Toothpick � to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. [Matthew 7:1]
• A Rubber Band � to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out. [Romans 8:28]
• A Band Aid � to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else�s. [Colossians 3:12-14]
• A Pencil � to remind you to list your blessings every day. [Ephesians 1:3]
• An Eraser � to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it�s okay. [Genesis 50:15-21]
• Chewing Gum � to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything. [Philippians 4:13]
• A Mint � to remind you that you are worth a mint! [John 3:16-17]
• A Candy Kiss � to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday. [1 John 4:7]
• A Tea Bag � to remind you to relax daily and go over that list of blessings. [1 Thessalonians 5:18]

Sniff.� Pretty awww, right?� I thought so, but I’m a sucker for such things.� Luckily, so is my 10 year old niece.

I made sure my items fit inside one of those standard issue jewelry boxes you can find at party supply stores. Had I not procrastinated, I would have used something fancier, maybe a wood box from Michael’s or JoAnn’s.

I printed up her Daily Survival Kit contents and attached the scripture references on a separate page in case she is like me and wants to, um, know everything.

Then I wrapped it up in a crumpled brown bag and stamped her name across the top.

I wanted to print the kit and verses on 5×7 scalloped paper that I could wrap around the box, but my printer decided to give me attitude. Instead, I printed it on 8.5×11 resume paper. I tried wrapping that around the box, but it was a debacle of the first order. I printed out a second set and made scrolls. It was all very Old Testament, in a turning 10 in 2010 kinda way.

Oh!� And in case you were curious about the verses like I was, I’ve jotted them down for you right here.� :)

Matthew 7:1
Stop judging, that you may not be judged.

Romans 8:28
We know that all things work for good for those who love God, 6 who are called according to his purpose.

Colossians 3:12-14
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens

Genesis 50:15-21
Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful and thought, “Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against us and now plans to pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!” So they approached Joseph and said: “Before your father died, he gave us these instructions: ‘You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs you to forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you so cruelly.’ Please, therefore, forgive the crime that we, the servants of your father’s God, committed.” When they spoke these words to him, Joseph broke into tears. Then his brothers proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “Let us be your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. Therefore have no fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.

Philippians 4:13
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.