Doctrines and denominations should not divide us to the point where we cannot serve our Creator with one voice.

We have Him and our salvation through the death of our Messiah in common. This is our foundation, all the reason we need to celebrate.

We must be able to get together in love and commitment, and let our voices be filled with awe. We must work towards fulfilling Psalm 133:1, which says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

I have a childhood memory that reminds me of this spiritual application. Join me on a journey remembering the time when we, as children ate black balls of jaw breaker candy, we knew as Nikkerballs.

Have you ever eaten a Nikkerball? If not, you missed out on an exciting experience that most of my other friends who were born in the 1960’s has had.

The Nikkerball is a black marble-like sweet that may not seem appetizing at first glance. It lacks frills, colourful wrapping and beautiful packaging. Instead, it’s just a round, hard ball usually found on shop counters in glass jars.

When I think of a Nikkerball, it brings back memories of my joyful and vibrant childhood. I had the privilege to spend the first few years of my childhood on a farm on the banks of the Orange River.

I remember my friends with dusty feet and chipped toenails from kicking rocks. We would play, laugh, and most importantly, share with each other. It was a time filled with happiness and wonderful experiences.

Nikkerball memories are associated with memories of worn-out cement steps. The steps were at the edge of a red painted farm cafe stoep. Whenever my mom gave us a coin from her purse, we would happily skip down the dirt road to the small cafe.

Reaching the cafe, we would buy a small bottle of green or red sparkling cold drink in a thick glass bottle and a few Nikkerballs.

The shop assistant would open the cold drink with a flat stainless steel bottle opener that was attached to the till on the counter with a weathered string that was white a while ago. With the open drink and the Nikkerballs in our hands, we hurried outside.

Sitting in a row on the red stoep, we would send the bottle down the row , sharing in the delight filled with bubbles.

I grew up on a farm where there were no borders between race and class. The words “sanitize” and “sterilize” were unfamiliar to us. These words were only associated with hospitals, not with how friends interacted. No wet wipes to clean between friends who shared the same bottle. We didn’t even use straws. We simply shared innocently and joyfully.

We didn’t have enough money to buy a cold drink or Nikkerball for each friend. But we believed that sharing was a form of genuine friendship. It was a safe environment were all knew they were included, no one felt left out.

We would divide into groups of 3 or less. Each group would receive a black Nikkerball, which had layers of black, pink, and blue covering a small multicoloured centre. When you held it in your hand, you could smell the anise flavour. The first person in the group would have the privilege of sucking the black layer off the Nikkerball. We would roll it from cheek to cheek while sucking on it. Occasionally, we would take it out for all friends to inspect. Once the pink layer was visible, it would be the next friend’s turn, and then the last friend would get to suck on the blue layer.

But our sharing experience didn’t end there. When the multicoloured centre was visible, we would take it out and place it on the worn steps of the stoep. Then, we would find a rock by the road and smash the Nikkerball into pieces that we could divide among ourselves.

The Word can be compared to a “Nikkerball.” Childhood friends are like our co-believers, like race, denominations does not divide when it come sharing of the Word. Pocket money is an opportunity, do we eagerly share without staking claim to opportunities?

Do we have the same precious memories of our time spent around the “Nikkerball” of our faith, the Word? Or do we only see the colour we are sucking on. Can we wait for our turn to handle the Nikkerball or is our whole focus just on our turn ,or insight.

Do we grab hold of every opportunity to share in the delight of the Scriptures?

Do we skip happily to partake in every opportunity, to share in the exciting adventure of discovering the layers and flavours of the Scriptures? Or do we hear of an opportunity and decide to partake privately, not sharing, or save up for bigger opportunities than a farm stoep experience?

Do the sanitizing and sterilizing factors of the doctrines we picked up prevent us from sharing like little children? Or do we have wisdom to share and marvel on what we have in common, not causing division.

Do we share without conditions? Do we share while considering our fellow believers or others?

We should encourage one another and join hands as believers. Let’s seize every opportunity to share His Word and create lasting memories. These memories will be cherished every time we revisit the Scriptures.

Join me in creating new Nikkerball experiences around the precious multilayered Word.

All to the glory of our Creator!