Served With Love

By Carin LeRoy –

The first night after arriving home from my honeymoon, I wanted to make my new husband a nice meal, so I decided I’d make my Mom’s homemade potato soup and cornbread. I thought that would be a goof-proof meal. It would be the first meal in our little home. After work, I got busy peeling potatoes and putting all the ingredients in the pot to boil. Everything went well. That is, until I realized I burnt the soup.

Oops. I guess I had the burner on ‘High.’

We ate the soup anyway, and I don’t remember my husband complaining. He knew better than to fuss about his new bride’s food. That was the first of many meals I’ve cooked for my family. While raising four children, food became an important part of family life. I’ve had many nights when I’d rather not cook, but when there are four starving kids and a fellow who comes home hungry, it’s a part of life.

Rather than think of it as drudgery, consider it a way to serve and show love to your family. Good nutrition is essential to good health, and we do want our loved ones to thrive. The virtuous woman gives us a good example when we read that “she gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls,” (Proverbs 31: 15 NIV). I don’t have servant girls and I’m not keen on getting up while it’s dark, but I can provide food for my family. Reach for the cookbook (or the frozen casserole) and serve up some love to your family today.

PRAYER: Lord, keep me mindful that showing love to others is a reflection of Your love for us and that even the mundane things of life are a way to serve and love our family.

BIBLE VERSE: “Do everything in love….” (I Corinthians 16:14 NIV).