EVERYTIME i visit she makes me my "favorite" meal,
"hoast beef" (roast beef).
first, grandma (who we lovingly refer to as "vava") doesn't speak english (she speaks portuguese. yes, i speak portuguese too) and can't say her "r." it is incredibly cute when she attempts to speak english, and i for one love her "r"-less words.
second, roast beef is not my favorite, but don't tell vava!
about 15 years ago on a visit to vava's she had made "hoast beef," i commented on how good it was, and from that time on she has referred to it as my favorite and has ALWAYS made "hoast beef" when i come for a visit.
for the portuguese the way to show affection is by feeding each other. there is always a great feast whenever we are together. i receive affection when i enjoy the feast.
i think of the feast God provides for me daily. do i come to his table? do i feast on what he knows will be my favorite meals? the truth is i don't. i snack, but rarely do i feast.
and i'm hungry.
i stand at the refrigerator of God' s word, undecided on what i should consume. usually after a few moments of staring in i close the door, decide on a snack, and satisfy my hunger temporarily. but in the end i'm still hungry.
i receive affection from God when my plate is filled at his banqueting table. i am exhausted and worn down when my plate is filled from life's table.
"Come unto Me" Matt 6:28
"Do I want to get there? I can now. The questions that matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by the words- "Come unto Me." Not- Do this or don't do that; but- "Come unto Me."
... The attitude of coming is that the will resolutely lets go of everything and deliberately commits all to Him.
..."Come unto Me, and I will give you rest," i.e., I will stay you. Not - I will put you to bed and hold your hand and sing you to sleep; but-I will get you out of bed, out of the languor and exhaustion, out of the state of being half dead while you are alive."
Oswald Chambers
7 comments:
Hola Denise, I was in Portugal when 911 happened. My in-laws were at my house with my wife and I called them and they hadn't heard becasuse they getting ready to go shopping. I love the Portugese people. They are some of the greatest. I was at Word of Life Camp in Mafra. Solo queria agradecerte por tu tiempo in writing about your grandmother who can't speak her "r's". You can visit my blog at Eddie's Place.
So very true that when we try to get by on a snack from God, we will always wind up hungry later. Better to sit down and eat, and then we won't have the need for a snack later.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Aww your "vava" is so cute!
:)
I'm guilty of snacking too. Why oh why do I just peak my head in, shut the door and choose to snack on something else instead. I know that only God will satisfy, and yet more often than not I fail to go to the true source of food.
Yes, and I am hungry...
Thanks for such a beautiful post!
Such an encouraging post, Denise! I'm very hungry and looking forward to feasting this summer.
Oh, and I was scared to what "hoast beef" was going to be. I'm so glad it's just roast beef, cause I thought it was going to be something like corned beef which I like as much as you like caseroles. :)
Last week was a rough week for me spiritually (being with my family) and I felt like I was only nibbling away and slowly I was starving. It's so good to be home among friends, to have the time to really get in the Word, to spend time praying, and visiting my bloggy friends and enjoy their company and words or encouragement and challenge. Thanks, Denise, for being one of those "friends." You really are an encouragement to me.
well said my friend, well said.
Love the pict of Josie and Vava and I love the notion of Hoast Beef and it not being your favorite "but don't tell Vava"... Sometimes I find that God gives me "Hoast Beef" too... and though it isn't my favorite, it is always very very good for me. ;)
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