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What’s For Supper, Mama?

By: Alan Harvey

Posted: July 30, 2014

Category: Daily Devotional

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food …? Matthew 6:25 (NRSV)

The title for this devotion is a takeoff on a familiar sketch, “What’s For Supper, Grandpa?”, done by Grandpa Jones on the old country music variety show, Hee Haw! When asked that question, Grandpa would proceed to state a typical Southern menu with mouth-watering descriptions. My paternal grandmother, whom I loved so much, would often ask us what we would like for supper. She loved to prepare the favorite foods of her family members and so it was not unusual for her to ask us that question.

The funny side of her question was that it was often asked while cleaning up the dinner dishes! Often it seemed we just finished a large meal and here she was asking us what we wanted to eat next. Those who cook know that it takes time to prepare meals! Little time may be required to put sandwiches or convenience foods on the table, but when one actually prepares and cooks a meal from scratch one needs more than a few minutes to do so.

Bless her heart! Mama was a good old fashioned cook and she was remarkably adept at getting a meal on the table in record time. She fed her family well and I may attribute some of the weight that I carry around my middle from childhood until the present day thanks to the wonderful foods she prepared and served.

Indeed life is more than what we eat! We really should eat to live rather than live to eat. I don’t believe Mama worried about what we would eat but she was concerned about meal preparation. I believe she viewed preparing meals, having foods that her family members would enjoy, and having the meal ready when they wanted to eat as ways of showing her love for us. Jesus wants us to trust God to provide for our needs and therefore we need not worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear. Often, God uses our family members to show God’s love and care for us, as I believe God used my grandmother to show God’s love for all of her family.

Prayer

Blessed Lord, we thank you for the memories of dear loved ones and for wonderful meals that family members have prepared for us to share around our family tables. We thank you that you provide for our needs so that we do not have to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear. Help us to seek your kingdom first and to trust that you will indeed provide for all of our needs. Amen.