Meals and Laughter

March 15, 2023

“All the days of the afflicted are evil, 

But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast…

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, 

Than a fatted calf with hatred.”

—Proverbs 15:15, 17

This morning, Linda and I drove 2 hours to have a pancake breakfast with my brother and sister in law, celebrating her birthday and reminiscing back to when we came to this same pancake house with our folks probably about 15 years ago. Funny how a simple thing like a pancake breakfast stays lodged in the memory. 

We had been home a little over an hour when we took off again, this time to a fundraising dinner for Linda’s home church to enable them to disaffiliate from the denomination. Both times there was laughter, shared concerns, prayers, and love shared. When we got home, I took two of the meals to Linda’s sister and brother in law who are laid up momentarily.

We’ve watched plenty of British manor house mysteries where wealthy people dine, attended by servants, seated beneath crystal chandeliers, but with acidic acrimony in the room and murder in the air. We’ve observed people in restaurants, facing each other with noses buried in their cell phones. I remember a time when we were celebrating Linda’s birthday at the Nickel Inn. We were laughing, telling stories, enjoying each other’s company, when we were made aware of a woman who had come in with her husband/boyfriend (I can’t remember which). He excused himself, went to the bar where another woman was waiting for him, and left, leaving his date with the bill and no transportation home. 

Jesus often sat down to eat with people, even on the eve of his death when he broke bread with his disciples. How different a meal that fills not only the belly, but also the soul. No wonder heaven is portrayed as a great banquet! Whatever will be set before us will pale in comparison to being with the One who set the table and invites us to sit with him. Until then, days like today will have to suffice as a foretaste of that great meal to come where we will sit, laugh and sing, regale one another with the stories of salvation and be truly filled with the glory of God in Jesus Christ.