Seldom Kings Enjoy

It was supposed to be funny. I get that. But I didn’t think Jimmy Kimmel’s “I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy” video prank was funny one bit. OK, the end was kind of funny; I’ll give you that.

Maybe I didn’t see the humor because I’m a mom and have spent half of my life trying to stop all people under 18 from crying. And I have to wonder about any parent who would play a joke on their child that makes them cry — and then send the video of them crying to be played on national TV. Forget the dentist money from all that candy eating, jokesters, your kiddos are headed for therapy.

Once I got over the parents’ behavior, I watched dumbfounded that the kids were crying that hard over lost candy. Then I realized something. I may be 40 years older than the children in the video, but there’s not a lot of difference between how they act when they don’t get something they want and how I feel inside. I’ve just learned how to draw the public curtain on my discontent.

That was Halloween. It’s now Thanksgiving, a time when we focus on being grateful. But I’m not sure we are any more content with our lives than we were last week, last month or last year. And I don’t think discontent and gratitude can live in the same heart. At least, they don’t get along very well in my own.

I’ve always somehow connected contentment with loss or learning to live with less than you really want. When the Apostle Paul said “Be content in all circumstances,” he had just been beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, abandoned and left for dead. What else does the guy have to cling to?

But what about when life is going well? What about when my circumstances are better than most? I have a good life, and I know I haven’t looked around and thought, “Well, I’ve finally gotten there. I am content. I have enough.”

One of my sons is studying Shakespeare this year at school, and I was reminded of a scene in Henry VI when two gatekeepers come upon the king. The king is dressed in regular clothes and is out in the country, away from the palace. The gatekeepers aren’t sure whether to believe the king is the real king, and they ask him, “But if thou be a king, where is thy crown?”

King Henry VI answers,

“My crown is in my heart, not on my head;Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen: my crown is called content:A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.”

Seldom kings enjoy. That last phrase kills me.

I have richly been provided everything I need for my enjoyment. And I hope that is enough.

Here’s a recipe for my favorite childhood candy, the kind I threw a fit over every holiday season.

Peanut Butter Balls
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and stir until really stiff. You might need to use your hands to knead and make a smooth dough. Roll into small balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill baking sheet in refrigerator until firm, about two hours.

After chilling, microwave chocolate chips and oil together in 20-second intervals, stirring after each interval. Repeat until melted. Make sure you use a bowl that makes it easy to dip the balls into the chocolate.

Using a fork or sturdy toothpick, dip each ball into the melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet; repeat until finished. Place the pan back in the refrigerator for 2-3 more hours to allow chocolate to set. Store, covered, in the refrigerator.

To make the drizzle decoration, reheat any leftover chocolate chips in the microwave for a few seconds and then quickly spoon into a small Ziploc plastic bag. Using scissors, carefully cut off a tiny corner of the bag and drizzle melted chocolate over the chocolate balls. You can drizzle before the chocolate has completely set on each ball. 

For more recipes and articles from Leigh, check out her blog at One Big Happy Table!