For the actual marshmallows? Twenty minutes, according to the study. Not too long, but then again, they were four-year olds. That’s an eternity to my four-year old.

For the “marshmallow”? Well, I’ve waited decades for some of those and still haven’t received my reward. Hebrews 11 helps.

Isn’t that awesome to be so proud of you kids to know they have learned disciple such as a mere marshmallow? It shows you’ve been a good example to them, I think. After all, God tell us to live through actions and not just words. I children ’see’ what we do and not as say. Good for you. I’ll check out your blog later tonight when the kiddo’s are in bed around 8 Texas Time.

My sister, who lives in another city, brought some early Christmas presents for my 6-yr-old (Brenna). She let Brenna open one gift, then asked if she would like to open more or wait till Christmas. Brenna replied she would rather wait so she would have more presents to open on Christmas. That’s when my sister turned to me and said, “your daughter would do great in the marshmallow experiment,” and proceeded to tell me about the whole study.

I was incredibly proud of my girlie’s self control, but I couldn’t tell you where she learned that … She certainly has her “moments” — as do I

sarah, thanks for sharing. i hope your discipline rubs off on the kids!

i had mine before the harder work of today began. what does that mean?

I like cryptic language. It contains possibility, flexibility.

I like that you answered your own question too. (That is the best psychological approach yet! I’m sure my friend will be inspired to share someday. : )

I wonder if it is wrong to take the marshmallow. Or if it just is what it is. In other words, a small reward and pleasure for being in the right place at the right time, forfeiting the possibility of more, since it might not come anyway.

I’m thinking that the marshmallow analogy may break down.

And I’m thinking I must remember to have a cup of tea and a chocolate this afternoon, as a reward for working so hard on my manuscript today (and I trust that I will grant it to myself and that God will not mind and perhaps may even be the one granting it).

i’ll pick letter “a” because it has to do with trust. one of the marshmallows i take quite often is affirmation. i brag to certain colleagues and in return, they affirm me. i don’t mean the obnoxious kind of bragging, but a more subtle, acceptable type. sometimes it’s a subconscious act; sometimes i realize it as it’s happening but i proceed anyway. regardless, i know when my motives are impure.

why do i do it? because i don’t trust that God will do it.

as you wrote, “i may not indeed be able to trust the promise of more.” see, if i wait for God to affirm me, there’s no guarantee of when it will happen, or even if it will happen. but when i take the matter into my own hands, i can schedule it into my day. i know that i have a meeting with so and so at 11 am. when he asks about xyz, i’ll say this to impress him.

in this area of my life, i take the marshmallow almost every time.