Lesson from the Kids

I was watching Joel and Caleb play this morning. From all outside appearances, they were getting along fine, and Joel was being very sweet to Caleb by giving him toys to play with. If you looked closer, though, you would have seen that Joel was giving Caleb all the toys he didn't want by making them look very exciting. Once Caleb was occupied, he would turn around and play with all the better toys. I do have to admit that it seemed like a good arrangement since Caleb doesn't seem to notice and they were (for once) not fighting....soon enough Caleb will realize he is being manipulated.

How often do we do that as adults to others? Give them just part of our time, energy, money, etc and act like it is the best we have to offer when we are really just saving the best for ourselves?