How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

The age old question:

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?

How many people have spent hours counting the licks to the center of the tootsie pop?  How many have gotten tired of counting and given up?  How many have lost count and had to start over...another day? 

Life is like a tootsie pop.  (*insert mocking laughter here*) 

But seriously, it is.  We're handed this candy and told how good it is.  We're told how the center is the best part.  Instead of eating it slowly, enjoying every part of the candy, we're in a rush to get to the best part.  We end up biting the candy and before you know it, it's gone.

Now life...life is the same way.  We're given life and it's supposed to be great.  Good job, love, happiness, etc.  Too many people think it's all supposed to be the "chocolately center of the tootsie pop"...ya know, the best.  We have to go through tough times (the hard candy) before we can get our "soft center".  It may seem like you'll never get passed the hard times but keep going.  Do you want to be one of the people who have given up?  Lost count?  Said "maybe another day..."? 

Maybe all of this is babbling.  It might only make sense to me, but I'm writing this.  Maybe it's written for me.  Maybe it's wrtten for you.  Everyone has a "tootsie pop life"...how will you get to the center?

Just because something is called one thing, doesn't mean it is.  You can say you're a Christian, but that doesn't make you a Christian unless you live by the Word.  Christians who are sincere in their walk may not boast about it as people who are trying to prove a point to someone.  They're spirit is sweet unlike the person who is showing off their "best colors".  A carrot may have more color than an orange, but an orange is sweeter.  Carrots may look brighter on the outside, but as far as what's on the inside, oranges have them beat. 

People...ugh!