“It’s your turn to open presents.” My sister-in-law’s words drew my attention back from helping my kids explore the gift they’d just unwrapped.

“Okay,” I picked up a medium-sized box wrapped in festive paper.

I checked the label. It was from my in-laws. I glanced up to double-check they knew I was opening it.

I ripped off the paper to reveal a brown shipping box.

I opened the box.

Inside, I found a wide glass jar with a flip lid, a fresh bag of brown sugar, and a set of sugar keepers or brown sugar savers.

I smiled. These would be useful.

At one point, I had kept my brown sugar in a tall plastic container, but the container was now scratched and cracked. Recently, my brown sugar lived in the original bag with a twist tie or clip to seal it shut. This meant I was often battling hard, dry brown sugar.

A few days later, after the hubbub of Christmas had calmed, I prepared to put my new gift to use. With the jar freshly washed, I looked at the sugar keepers.

They were simple terracotta discs with the imprint of a maple leaf.

The instructions were straightforward. Soak in water for 20 minutes. Dry off the outside and place in sugar.

I filled a measuring cup with water and put the sugar keepers in.

My kids glanced up from their playdough at the sound of the sizzle and whistle of the keepers soaking up the water.

Once the kids returned to their playdough, I had a moment to read the back of the sugar keepers’ package.

The package listed several other things the sugar keeper could do:

• Keep cakes and cookies moist
• Keep raisins, coconut, and other dried fruits fresh

I glanced at my kids. Could it keep playdough soft? I might have to try.

I looked back at the package. It had a second side to the wording.

Apparently, the sugar keeper could be dried in the oven and would then be useful for keeping things dry. It could:

• Keep spices and salt dry
• Keep chips crispy
• Keep electronic equipment dry

These uses surprised me. I had no idea how many things a little terracotta disc could be useful for.

It was then that an allegory took shape in my mind.

I, as a Christian, am meant to bring life to those around me, just as the sugar keeper is to bring moisture (and thus give life to) brown sugar.

Is it my own life that I bring to those around me? No, it is the life Jesus gives. The life which, by the Holy Spirit, lives in me.

Similarly, the sugar keeper does not give its own moisture to the sugar. The keeper must first be soaked, thus being filled up with water so it has something to give.

Giving moisture is not the only thing a sugar keeper can do. It can also suck moisture out of everything around it.

Likewise, giving life is not the only thing I can do. I can also drain the joy and hope out of everyone I cross paths with.

This happens when I am living in the flesh, not walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26 clarifies the difference. (For sake of time I will abbreviate the passage, but the full section is worth reading.)

The works of the flesh include: Jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, and envy. (Gal. 5:19-21)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a CSB)

I don’t want to be a life drainer. I want to be life giving to those around me.

I want to share a taste of the life Jesus gives with those I cross paths with. I want to give joy, hope, encouragement, and love to them.

I want them to see Jesus in me.

How can I do this?

The more I draw near to Jesus – seeking Him through the Bible, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship – the more I will be filled with His life.

The more I am filled with Jesus’ life, the more it will seep out of me to bring life to those around me.

God will be at work through me.

Today, may I seek Jesus more so that I may be a life giver, not a life drainer.