Love through a Meal

Love through a Meal

by Lindsay King

There are few significant events in life that change your point of view like becoming a parent. Nora was a planned surprise…a miracle in many ways for myself and Caleb. I still remember my shock at the faint second line. Three tests later from three different boxes all saying the same thing, and I was still on the fence about their accuracy. Being pregnant for me was a bit surreal. It took me a while to share the news and start planning for her arrival. I had just started to show when COVID-19 changed everything, but God’s timing is perfect. I’m so thankful that Nora was our first child so that I didn’t have anything to compare my pregnancy to. But let’s be honest…I did know that under “normal” conditions I wouldn’t have had my temperature checked six times in one week.

As I continued preparing for Nora’s arrival, determining what we were going to eat after she arrived was near the top of the list. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting anyone to bring us a meal. It felt like we had just started to really get to know people at Waypoint, when COVID hit. Since nothing really sounded good to eat while I was pregnant, preparing and freezing a few meals seemed like a bad idea. The last thing I needed was meals taking up freezer space that didn’t sound good. I also didn’t quite have the energy for meal prep. So, I stocked up on various microwavable dinners.

Nora decided to surprise us and arrived a bit early on August 23. While in the hospital, I received a text message from one of the women in our small group asking if I would be interested in a meal train. Yes, definitely! My neighbor and a couple other friends also brought meals. I was so thankful for each meal that came. Between the meals provided, leftovers, microwavable dinners, and drive-thru stops, I didn’t have to think about cooking for a month! As I started to cook again, I realized just how much love I felt from each person, our small group, and Waypoint. Each meal represented time someone had taking out of their busy schedule to help me, so that my exhausted, sleep-deprived brain would have one less thing to worry about.

The importance of taking someone a meal wasn’t something I learned growing up. Signing up to take a meal always seemed so hard and something I didn’t have time for. Until the day I realized that crockpot chili and a pack of Klondike bars was all I really needed. Up until now, I always thought of taking a meal as just a way to help a friend. I never truly understood what “food is love” meant until now. I never looked at it as a way to show love and touch someone’s soul.

Jesus demonstrated the importance of a meal, especially when someone is suffering or struggling. In His third appearance after His resurrection, Jesus cooked breakfast for the disciples. In John 21 (NIV), it says:

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

COVID continues to make life challenging for us all. There will be many who will spend Christmas alone this year because of it. There are also others who always spend Christmas alone. This is an excellent opportunity to offer those who are alone a meal. You might have to do a porch drop off this year, but they will feel your love with every bite. God can open doors and create opportunities to further build connections and show His love, whether the meal is homemade, store brought, or via gift card.

And just for the record…I haven’t yet finished all my microwavable dinners.