Funny Story - Becca

Well, the lesson continues. :) So, in a previous blog I spent time sharing about the importance of thankfullness and not complaining. This latest story/testimony may seem a bit trivial, but I think that the Lord can use very simple things to speak to us, and the following story is one of those things.

Sunday night I was sharing with a couple of friends that my "nightmare food is ham and beans" because I've not been especially fond of ham, nor have I been extremely appreciative of certain beans. On Monday, I went to visit one of my friends, who may be elderly in age, but mentally is still pretty young. She is a precious lady who dearly loves the Lord and her life and love of Him is a testimony to many. When I go and visit her, it is always a blessing. Well, as I said, on this particular day, I didn't bring food for supper (as I sometimes do), and she didn't really have anything prepared. But the Lord is good - on more than one level! :)

Just earlier that day, her neighbor kindly brought over a container of cornbread... I like cornbread. :) And what would our main dish be? What else? The Lord never wastes opportunity. There before me was a small container of the previously proclaimed "nightmare food". Now, I could have passed over the pig and beans, opting to manage on "angeled" eggs, milk, cheese and a day-old sandwich, but then I would have missed out on a valuable lesson and an entertaining story. So, like any missionary learns, "don't reject what's put before you so as not to cause an offense".

In the time around reaching for the container, I found myself thinking about how it's not a big deal and many of the things that I am "opposed" to, I'm really not that violently against - at least not as much as I've lead others to believe and stubbornly insisted to myself. I scooped a few spoons of the soup and poured a bit of flavor-altering sauce of some sort and began to indulge.

Hmmm. It's not so bad. I reached for a second, and I think even a third helping. I also ate a slice of ham that my friend had previously planned on sharing. As I cut the outside skin off of this slice, I looked at it, and was feeling a bit like a spoiled American brat. I started to think what many probably would, that there are people around the world that would crave those extra pieces of edible meat. The meager meal before me also reminded me that we often don't know how good we in America have it, and without trying to bring gloom and doom, we really don't have a promise that our lives will remain the way we know it until the end of age.

May you and I truly come to what Paul was able to boldy proclaim, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Phil 4:12) We can do this by, without sounding like a broken record, truly delighting in Him - always.

It may seem pretty silly, but I really think that it was the Lord that had that neighbor make up a pot of that soup, and had it hand-delivered just for me. And if the Lord is ministering to you through this, then it was for you, too. He doesn't waste a thing!

May we truly give up the time-honored tradition of whining and take up the lifestyle of humble thankfulness for everything - even the ham and beans, even the "valleys". If we start being more thankful, I bet that we'd be able to see even the tough things in life as a gift. Just a hunch. :)