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Have you heard of __The Marshmallow Experiment__? It is a famous study from Stanford University that started in the 1960s. The study revealed a very significant quality that you and I need, to accomplish success. A quality that is becoming scarcer and scarcer. If scarcity was the only factor that determined value, this quality would be worth more than gold, platinum and bitcoin combined in today's world.

This, in short, is how the study was conducted.

Children between the ages of four and five were given a choice. They could get one marshmallow immediately. Or they could get two if they waited a vague amount of time. It was a test of their ability to delay their own gratification.

These kids were monitored for the next 40 years. Each child's progress was monitored in a number of areas. This is what was found.

> The group who waited patiently for the second marshmallow succeed in whatever capacity they were measuring. In other words, this series of experiments proved that the ability to delay gratification was critical for success in life.

[Source](https://jamesclear.com/delayed-gratification)

The children who were willing to delay gratification ended up having
+ higher SAT scores, 
+ lower levels of substance abuse, 
+ lower likelihood of obesity, 
+ better responses to stress, 
+ better social skills as reported by their parents, 
+ and generally better scores in a range of other life measures.<br><br>

People often seek Band-Aid solutions to situations. We are on a mission to ease our comfort in the situation we are in. The problem is that if we always do this we will never do the things required to make tomorrow better.

+ We will never run the extra mile to get fit enough to win the race.
+ We will never do homework before we watch TV.
+ We will never save enough for retirement instead of wearing the newest fashion.
+ We will never wait to get home for a proper meal but will buy snacks whenever the opportunity arises.
+ We will jump into the first relationship instead of waiting for the best relationship.

Two-year-olds struggle with delayed gratification. Dogs struggle with delayed gratification.

### You should not, as you are neither!<br><br>

Life will force you to wait for some things. I am not talking about those. I am talking about the situations where you have a choice. When it is up to you, you should choose to do that which will be beneficial in the longer term, not just the current moment.

This information should be factored into your parenting strategy and your strategy for personal success. If this is true, do you not think marshmallows can show you something about God's strategy with you?

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I look forward to your comments!

@reonlouw