It was a rare time when I found myself alone to change my son’s diaper.
Confident in my ability to do this job solo, I laid out the changing pad underneath him, and unsnapped his outfit. As I expected, he began to cry and kick and express how much he dislikes having his diapers changed.
I set a new diaper at the ready by his side and ensured that the container of wipes were equally accessible. I unpeeled the tape holding his current diaper together.
A quick glance confirmed what I had smelled: this was a messy job.
I reached into the wipes container but found it empty.
At a moment when I believed I had been sufficiently prepared, I suddenly found myself wanting.
I had been deceived and betrayed by the label. The container said it contained wipes, but in fact it contained air.
The boy continued to kick, cry, and fuss. The diaper was now loosened. I was growing desperate.
In a moment of frustration, I picked up the empty plastic bin, and tossed it away from me to the corner of the room. It was worthless to me, and I felt disgust and distain at its deception.
Then I remembered a moment from the life of Jesus:
“Now in the morning as [Jesus] returned into the city, He hungered. And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, ‘Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.’ And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, ‘How soon is the fig tree withered away!’ “(Matthew 21:18-20)