The Gift Of A Meal

It was a wonderful weekend getaway with my husband.
This was the weekend of the big football game.
My husband’s alma mater against my son’s law school.

My husband’s school won the football game.
Though fumbles and turnovers should have drastically changed the outcome.
That is a discussion for another time.

It was so good to see our son and friends we have not seen in over thirty years.
The years have been kind.
As good friends do, we picked up right where we left off.
It’s funny to hear old stories told the same way, with a bit of embellishment.

Our son said that it was sort of surreal to think that this will be him in thirty years.
Time goes by much too quickly; friendships forged with bonds that strengthen over time.
It is good to remember who you were and who you still are down deep.

My husband brought his old yearbook and others brought photo albums.
It was funny to see my son look at his Dad in pictures.
His dad with longer hair, interesting sweaters, bigger glasses; yet still his Dad.

Dad, down deep.
Dad before he was a Dad.
Dad back then.

You look just like your Dad did at this age!
My husband secretly enjoyed hearing that remark!
The passage of time.

It was so nice to come home after being away.
My daughter blessed us by having a meal all prepared.
I knew you would not feel like cooking after being away.
What a gift!

I love to cook and people seem to enjoy the food I prepare.
I remember when I was learning to cook; it was trial and error mostly.

I wanted to impress my soon to be husband and decided to make lasagna.
I prepared it as the recipe said, making the layers of noodles, meat, and cheese.
When I took it out of the oven, it didn’t look like the picture.
I ended with noodles but no sauce on top since I used it all in the other layers.
He never said a thing; he just simply removed the top layer and ate all the others.

When we were first married, I wanted dinner to be on the table when he got home.
I remember making the salad dressing as I saw him enter our apartment complex.
I put the ingredients in the dressing carafe and shook it to mix.
The lid was not on tight enough; oil, vinegar, and seasonings splattered over the kitchen.
He just held me and wiped away the tears.

New cooks and seasoned cooks all have stories of mishaps and forgotten ingredients.
The most important part of the meal is the fellowship.
Of course, equally important is the love in the preparation.

There will be another meal, at another time.
We wait for it in anticipation.

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when He comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for Him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes. I tell you the truth, He will dress Himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if He comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. (Luke 12:35-40)

Don’t miss it!
Don’t miss the meal that is waiting for you!
Notice WHO is doing the serving!

He will dress Himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

Our Lord Jesus will wait on us at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
Our Lord Jesus, who deserves legions of angels serving HIM, will serve us.
He is our Servant-Lord.

One day, Jesus is coming back.
Jesus will gather those that are His and usher them into the Banquet.
The same Lord Jesus who wrapped a towel around His waist and washed feet.
The same Lord Jesus that delights in serving.

Sit down here; Let Me serve you.
We see the nail scarred hands as He serves us the meal.
He will dress Himself to serve, perhaps with a towel around His waist.

We will be humbled that the Son of God takes on the nature of a servant.
Jesus did that once before, when He humbled Himself on the cross.

To be served a meal.
To have everything prepared.
To be waited on.

It is a Gift from One who loves you so much He died for you.
The Servant-Lord Jesus.

Can you smell it?
Can you taste it?
What a banquet it will be!
Are you dressed and ready for the meal He is preparing?