The Spaghetti Pot

In less than two months, our second grandbaby is due.
Everyone in our family feels the excitement.
It is palpable.
We cannot wait to meet this little one we already love so much.

In less than two weeks, we will be having a baby shower for my sweet daughter-in-love.
Another shower was given by her extended family who live in another state.
It was decided that two showers were acceptable considering the distance.
Each shower considered the location of the women on both of the guest lists.

Since his wife was going to be away for the shower, my son decided to come home.
It is so nice when my adult children come home and stay for an overnight or the weekend.
I missed my sweet daughter-in-love, of course, but a visit from my son was very special.
His adorable Springer Spaniel came with him.

I knew that he was going to go to the baby shower before it ended.
I knew that he was going to bring whatever baby gifts they received home to their house.
After that, he was coming home for dinner.
My youngest daughter made no plans so that she could spend time with her brother.

I love when I hear his car door close.
I know that the dog will stop in the yard before she comes inside.
I know his footsteps on the wide steps of the deck.
I love the sound of the doorknob turning as my son comes in the kitchen.

Before he came, I made dinner.
I knew that he would love homemade spaghetti and meatballs.
The house smelled so delicious with its tomato-y goodness.
The spaghetti noodles were ready to be placed in the big spaghetti pot.

The water was boiling.
The salad was made.
I put more spaghetti than usual in the pot.
I had another man to feed.

I was using my large pot in which I make my homemade soups.
It gets a lot of use.
The lid of the spaghetti pot has a built in colander.
It has large holes on one side and smaller holes on the other.

When the soup is simmering, the holes in the lid let out the steam and the wonderful aroma.
I had never used the lid as an actual colander before.
I thought this would be a good time to try.
I locked the lid in place and turned the pot over the sink.

Before I could do anything, the lid came off and the entire pot of spaghetti fell into the sink.
I stared at the noodles sliding down the garbage disposal.
The sauce was simmering, ready to be poured over hot spaghetti noodles.
However, my hot spaghetti noodles were laying in the bottom of my sink.

I scooped most of the spaghetti noodles into a plastic bag and ground the rest in the disposal.
I cleaned the large spaghetti pot.
I started over.
Warm water with a touch of olive oil was on the stove waiting to boil.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”  Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
(John 6:27-40)

Jesus, doing His Father’s will, came to save.
Jesus has not lost any of the ones the Father gave Him.
Unlike the lid on my pot, we are secure when we come to Jesus for our salvation.
We will never fall out of His hands.

We must come to Jesus in faith, knowing that we bring nothing to Him but our sin.
When we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, we know that He will forgive us our sins.
We are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
We are safe in His hands.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

We will not go down the drain like my spaghetti.
We are firmly in His hands.
There is no faulty lock in Jesus’ hands.
We are held securely until Jesus raises us up on the last day.

Amen and Amen.