Was your family growing up the kind of family that made exactly the right amount of food (or maybe not quite enough) so that you went away a bit hungry and DEFINITELY never had leftovers?
Or was your family the family that made food for an army and then realized every night that there were still only 4 of you?
Or maybe you were the family that often had leftovers but you never liked saving leftovers so you threw them away if you had them?
Whether because of the means your parents had, their philosophies of providing, or just cooking preferences, it seems most people grew up with a slightly different experience on their food growing up. You see this also in the “did your parents force you to eat food you didn’t want to or would they let you eat anything?”
I happen to be in the second camp listed above. My mom always made so much food that we had leftovers for days afterward. The perks were, yes, leftovers (if it was good food) but it was also a blessing because if we ever invited a friend over for dinner, we hardly had to give my mom notice because she already was making enough to feed several other people.
I’ve inherited this gene completely and I always think through the “But what if everyone I’ve invited over also brings a friend and they all bring three other friends and then I don’t have enough food. I hate the idea of not having enough food to feed my guests, so I always err on the side of abundance.
Tonight I had my weekly bible study, in which I usually provide dinner for, and I wasn’t quite sure how many people would be coming, so naturally, I made 8 pizzas…just to be on the safe side…4 people ended up being here…including Anthony (my roommate) and me. We ended up having I think almost 6 full pizzas left.
Some might look at this and say what a waste, but I was able to send both of the guys back with at least a full pizza and now have leftovers for several days for the house here.
I’ve often seen the joy that my sister and mom get from feeding others, but I think I didn’t quite get it until I was living in my own home now and able to host others. It is a joy being able to put food in others’ mouths and seeing them enjoy it, and the time it takes and the cost of the food is a small price to pay to be able to form and develop relationships with people you want to get to know better.
I’ve been so blessed. How can I not try and bless others according to the blessings that have been given to me?