It can take two weeks to make one Jelly Bean.

It begins by heating a sugar,
cornstarch,
corn syrup,
and water mixture
known as a slurry, and adding fruit puree,
juice concentrate, or other ingredients for flavoring.

Next?

The mixture is squirted into cornstarch-coated molding trays and left to solidify into the chewy Jelly Bean centers.

The next day, the bean centers are sent through a steam bath and a sugar shower (sound like a shower you’d like to take?) to keep them from sticking.

There are more details—including panning, setting, and polishing. It’s a lot of shower, rinse, rest, and repeat for a process that takes seven to 14 days to complete before they receive a final thumbs-up and stamped with the Jelly Belly logo and shipped out to the world.

Doesn’t this seem like a LOT of time for such a tiny piece of candy? But I guess the Americans who gobble down an average of 16 billion Jelly Beans every Easter seem to think it’s worth it.

I know you’re waiting for the spiritual parallel . . .
So here we go!

It may seem at times your spiritual growth is slow.
We can be tempted to look at someone else and think,
Why am I not on their spiritual level? Why isn’t my faith as strong as . . .

We’re not competing spiritually with each other.
Spiritual growth takes time.
As long as we’re consistent in our Bible-reading, praying,
and obeying Christ as He leads us, He’ll take care of the timing details.

So grab your Bible and a handful of Jelly Beans and spend some
fun time with your Savior today. It’s worth it!

I love you!
Susie

PS: Fun Fact: President Ronald Reagan had 720 bags of Jelly Beans delivered to the White House each month.