Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away – and with it will come the beginning of what we call the Christmas Season. Already, grief support groups are forming to help people “get through the holidays” since so many suffer from bouts of depression during these times. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about with great eagerness and joy lately…
Have you ever seen (or actually partaken of) a Thanksgiving dinner that is almost beyond description – piled high with turkey, ham, roast beef, duck, 25 side dishes and 10 desserts. The table laden with the finest cloths, china, crystal and linens. Who can even estimate what such a feast would cost – both in time and energy to create? And while this is an exaggeration, is this not what people think they “should” long for? More, abundance, opulence – and forever feel like they’ve “failed” because they can barely handle even getting their family around the table, much less afford a tenth of such a feast.
Against such opulence and vulgarity, what I long for is … one perfect apple … sweet … juicy … simple … completely doable for anyone. But I speak in parables here. Because the apple is symbolic here of the simple joy of connecting with God…Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Simple, sweet, entirely available to me. And it won’t exhaust me, or leave me penniless for the expense – instead it will inspire and enrich me, give me a bounce to my step and a sparkle in eye. Ahhh…just the thought of it makes me happy. And I don’t need any grief counseling to get through it, nor do I need to save up for it. It’s already heaven-sent and at my right hand – I only need to reach for it and He is there. Refreshing, sustaining, delicious. That is God.
This year, as in most others, I will have, with family and friends, a pared down version of the opulent feast I spoke of. Perhaps a turkey, a few side dishes, pumpkin pie and maybe apple too. But as I shop, decorate the table and sit down to eat I will be thinking of that one perfect apple that is our true feast – Jehovah-Jireh, our Wonderful Provider.
Feast upon the Lord – nothing will satisfy more.
Have you ever seen (or actually partaken of) a Thanksgiving dinner that is almost beyond description – piled high with turkey, ham, roast beef, duck, 25 side dishes and 10 desserts. The table laden with the finest cloths, china, crystal and linens. Who can even estimate what such a feast would cost – both in time and energy to create? And while this is an exaggeration, is this not what people think they “should” long for? More, abundance, opulence – and forever feel like they’ve “failed” because they can barely handle even getting their family around the table, much less afford a tenth of such a feast.
Against such opulence and vulgarity, what I long for is … one perfect apple … sweet … juicy … simple … completely doable for anyone. But I speak in parables here. Because the apple is symbolic here of the simple joy of connecting with God…Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Simple, sweet, entirely available to me. And it won’t exhaust me, or leave me penniless for the expense – instead it will inspire and enrich me, give me a bounce to my step and a sparkle in eye. Ahhh…just the thought of it makes me happy. And I don’t need any grief counseling to get through it, nor do I need to save up for it. It’s already heaven-sent and at my right hand – I only need to reach for it and He is there. Refreshing, sustaining, delicious. That is God.
This year, as in most others, I will have, with family and friends, a pared down version of the opulent feast I spoke of. Perhaps a turkey, a few side dishes, pumpkin pie and maybe apple too. But as I shop, decorate the table and sit down to eat I will be thinking of that one perfect apple that is our true feast – Jehovah-Jireh, our Wonderful Provider.
Feast upon the Lord – nothing will satisfy more.
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1 comments:
Beautifully written, Susie!
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