I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me."
Genesis 22:17, 18
This was a real hoot to me, when I reflected on how hungry I was. My lunch really hit the spot! Yesterday’s lunch has actually been a really tasty Sunday dinner of Barbequed turkey necks, a broccoli and cheese rice, green beans and a piece of my husband’s sumptuous pound cake, yep I ate it interchangeably at dinner. So there I sat at my desk, in quite, feeling refreshed from a great walk and now enjoying a great meal of leftovers for lunch. All of it wasn’t there, but the little that was there satisfied my hungry palette. And then I began to chuckle as I thought about Grand Mama Rita and her big pots. I was glad not a soul was present, but I sure would have enjoyed reminiscing about my grandmother with my brothers.
I remember many wonderful pound cakes, she called them rabbit cakes, I am not sure why. Maybe it was a Easter cake recipe that she perfected. Yes indeed, she made the best fried chicken-she had that down to a science with the right amount of seasonings and salt. I know for a fact if she said, “I have a pot on,” that was hands off for us. We’d rather go home and enjoy roast, baked chicken or Saturday’s Chili, my father’s specialty. But definitely no oversized pot with neck bones and potatoes, turkey necks and gravy and beans and I don’t know what else? But the laughs on me- here I was at my “University JOB” and partaking in turkey neck bones. Oh my grandmother is rolling with laughter in the heavens. As Abraham says in Genesis 22:5 “...We will come right back!”
So here it is friends, this must be the message that the Holy Spirit is sharing with us today, that when you least expect it-you’ll repeat some tradition, some favorite dish, some ritual, something that connects you to your ancestors. There are many sacred rituals that have been ingrained in us, in our youth we may have shunned them, denounced them and turned up our nose at them, or simply taken them for granted- but I am a witness that you will gladly embrace them in your latter years. Because it really is who we are and apart of our good DNA!! My husband announced as we ate several turkey necks during out Sunday dinner, “See you had no idea what you were missing out as a child!” I nodded in agreement.
How I would love to be able to walk in my grandmother’s apartment one more time, and she invite me to the table and instead of saying, “No thank you Grand Mama!” I’d say, “Yes, Grand Mama I knew I was right on time!”
I thank God for my grandmother’s love and tolerance, I am grateful that by example she demonstrated how we could take a meager item, and create a feast that would nourish our bodies and delight our hearts.
Friends, as I read the New Living Translation today, I was so appreciative of how Abraham spoke life over his son, trusted God and as a result was richly blessed. I’d prefer to think my satisfying lunch was a byproduct and symbolic of the love-of my Grandmother’s love. She knew, and I suspect patiently awaited the day when I’d return home and be reacquainted with what would sustain me in my adult life.
"If you listen to these regulations and obey them faithfully, the Lord your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you, as he solemnly promised your ancestors.
Deut 7:12
Maybe our descendants will fondly recall our sacrifices and obedience to God as they return home by practicing and partaking some remembered ritual of love!!!
"This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me." Then they returned to Abraham's young men and traveled home again to Beersheba, where Abraham lived for quite some time.
Genesis 22:16-20 (NIV)
Have a great day my friends!
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Joyfully submitted by:
Linda Mose Meadows,
The Blessedness of Believing
Linda Mose Meadows,
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises
