Thursday, August 1, 2013

Comfort Ye Your Hearts


Genesis 18:3-8

And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

 

Tender mercies.  Sometimes, in the hectic demands of modern life, we forget how important the little things are.  Oh, we know how good food tastes and delight in the pleasures of a tasty meal.  It’s interesting to me that in our latest recession restaurants has been full.  It seems that even when people are struggling in a poor economy, we find the money to eat out.  But, that’s because food itself is something that is not easy to overlook.  It tickles our taste buds, after all, and is a pleasure.  The time taken to prepare a meal, however, is often overlooked as a good in itself.  Think about it: if you have to cook at home, 30-minute meals are advertised as best.  Even better is something that you just pop in the microwave for two minutes.  And at a restaurant, we like quick service – that’s one of the reasons why fast food is so popular.  We mistakenly think that the value of a home cooked meal is in the taste of it – fresh, slow cooked, warm, simple flavors.  We buy prepackaged versions of that and eat them in front of the television – or, if together as a family at the table, then hurriedly before someone has to be somewhere else.  But the intangible power, the deep satisfaction, of a truly home cooked meal is that it took the person who made it time and care to make it.

 

It’s the little things.  One child makes you something himself for your birthday, a picture of you and him smiling together, drawn carefully, but still crudely, in crayon.  The other child went shopping with an adult for an item on your wish list – he chose the item he wanted to give you, but didn’t pay for it himself.  Which present really gives you more joy?  Well, frankly, if the bought item is something that you really wanted, then you will probably be more excited about it and have the chance to use it, as opposed to the picture, which might cause you to wonder how you will store it and all the other pictures the child has drawn.  But… Have we become so materialistic that the look in the eyes of the child who drew the picture won’t stir something stronger in our hearts?  That connection of intimacy and joy in one another’s presence?  And what if a child buys a present that he thinks you want with his own money – but it really isn’t something that you want?  Surely, we are not so far gone that the knowledge that this little person took the time and effort to choose something for us while sacrificing his own money won’t cause a lasting lump of gladness in our throats and our hearts.  The state of our lives and the state of our world will be poor indeed if we cannot value the loving intent, the extra time taken, and the little sacrifices made in the hope of bringing us happiness.  Even if the item itself doesn’t make us happy – the giving, that willful act of gift, should cause us to know the truest joy.  And if it does not… Well, then, we lack love and it will take an awful lot of food and an awful lot of purchased stuff to try to fill that void – and all efforts will be futile.

 

Was it the fineness of the cakes, the tenderness of the meat, or the creaminess of the butter that was fitting for Abraham to serve to the LORD in the story from Genesis?  Or was it the fact that he sacrificed what was finest and best from his holdings for the other?  The fact that he took the time to invite them to rest, that he washed their feet and gave them the good things that he could offer from the sincerity of his heart – this is what is pleasing to God.  Abraham and Sarah’s time, effort, sacrifice, and loving care are the greatest gifts worthy of the Divine.  Our time, effort, sacrifice, and loving care are the greatest gift that we can give to each other, to our loved ones, to strangers (and so to ourselves) and not just on occasion.  Every day is a gift.  And as we receive every hour of the day as gift from God, let us give of that time, let us give of our lives, for no one need ever be poor in love.

Christina Chase

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