Today’s blog is written by JaVan Cook. Read as she shares about how preparing and delivering meals are practical ways to communicate care and God’s love to our church family.
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
–John 13:34-35
Food is my love language. Yes, I know it doesn’t make the list made popular by the famous book by Gary Chapman. We’ve all taken the assessments and should find ourselves in one of the five categories:
• Words of affirmation
• Quality time
• Receiving gifts
• Acts of service
• Physical touch
But for me, nothing I do compares to the overwhelming satisfaction I get when I cook for someone, have fellowship with friends, or plan our meals. Even grocery shopping makes me smile.
No matter what our cultural background is, the preparation and eating of food is something we all have in common with one another. And it is in the sharing of food with others that keeps us connected.
A quick biblical search on the topic of sharing food and hospitality will produce hundreds of verses. In some of the most memorable stories of Jesus, presented to us, we are reminded that he also saw the importance of these two things.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
-Revelation 3:20
“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
-Romans 12:13
In the fast-paced, tech-saturated, attention-deficit-disordered culture in which we find ourselves, Christians need to recover the art of a slow meal around a table with people we care about. Can’t we all agree some of our best childhood memories include food? The Thanksgiving dinners when all of the extended family traveled to be together, those birthdays where mom cooked our favorite meal, or the summers spent gathered together in the backyard with the smell of the charcoal grill nearby. Food simply brings people together.
I am proud to serve on The Care Team at The Point, where we listen, pray and encourage everyone in our church family. I have been blessed with the task of chairing our “Meals Team”. Did you know that our church provides hot, home cooked meals to people in need, including new parents, and those recovering from surgeries or medical issues? We absolutely do! When I arrived at The Point, my first meal delivery was a simple one, Loaded Potato Soup and a sleeve of crackers. Seriously, I could make that with my eyes closed. But you know what? The recipient of that soup still to this day talks to me about our visit. Just last week as I walked out towards my car she shouted, “Hey, do I have to get sick again to get some more of that soup!” Food is my love language, and she’ll be getting a pot of soup from me very soon!
Prayer
Thank You Lord for calling us into fellowship with Yourself and others. Thank you for your blessings of food, friends, and family. Help us to love one another as you have commanded and bless our time together always. Amen