A Good Measure
Feeding people is a love language for me. I just like to stuff 'em like ticks and send them off to sleepy-head land. It makes me happy to have them in my home and thankfully, I've always had enough food and they've not complained about it. To me anyway.
Each month we have Fellowship Dinner at church. It's always like a cooking show! I think about what I'm going to take a month before the day comes. Mostly because I hate to grocery shop so I only punish myself and do it once a month, but also because I'm excited! I love the challenge. The whole church becomes a guinea pig for me as I fling out my creation for them to partake! "What are you bringing tonight?" they ask after the morning service. I usually come up with a smart answer like, "Brussels!" or "Pickled Pigs Feet!"
Last month I made tacos. Pulled Pork Street Tacos. Hubby is always the logical one and he likes to make sure I could feed an army, so he had me run down my menu. I was disheartened to realize I should have gotten more flour tortillas in addition to the 180 corn that I had. Then, I was ashamed when I admitted I hadn't planned for guacamole.
"How can you have tacos without guacamole?" he asked.
Admittedly I was being a cheap-skate and replied, "But avocados are two dollars a piece and it would take a bunch to make enough guacamole." I hung my head when those words came out of my mouth. I was so embarrassed.
"Do I need to get a second job so you can buy avocados?" he asked.
What I actually heard was, "Why are you doing a half-way job? Are my people not good enough? Do I bless you half-way?" I felt like a slug. God often uses my husband to get a message through my thick head.
Luke 6:38..."A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,..."
That's what I should ALWAYS give. Not because of the rest of the verse, "will be poured into your lap", but because that's what my husband does. That's what Jesus does. That is what I should do. When I give, I should scoop up all I have, press it down and shake it so there's room for more, then, give until there is more than enough. Give until their cup is running over.
Luckily, I had time to get more avocados and was able to make a huge bowl of guacamole. God had already filled my cup with a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
When the "Pot Blessing" dinner time arrived, I had enough meat to feed an army and send some home with several more. Plus, they all got guacamole, and flour tortillas if they desired.
Next time I won't make the same mistake...
