I love the holidays! There is nothing like the feeling of walking into the home you grew up in, the sound of laughter in every room as family gathers from all around to catch up, to compare illnesses and scars, and most importantly....... TO EAT!
Having been raised as part of the Carroll heritage, I have many times in my life had the distinct privilege of enjoying feasts that would make Paula Deen jealous! Our side of the family has never been short on its ability to cook.... and put together some of the most amazing meals. I too enjoy getting in the kitchen and creating some exotic and unique dish.... but in comparison to the "Holiday" meals... my best creations are no more than a $2.00 lunchable! From salads to desserts, a family holiday meal at the McBride/Carroll household is going to be festive, delicious and plentiful.
And so it was yesterday. Mom amazed us all with a 20lb ham. I did not know that a ham could be that big. Along with the ham was baked beans, corn casserole, asparagus, chicken spaghetti, potato salad, fruit salad, jello salad,.... and enough desserts to open a new wing at the Baylor Heart Institute in Dallas.
But the one thing thing I was most thankful for.... was Aunt Sharron's deviled eggs. Now you may think that I have totally lost it, and I probably have. Give me a minute to explain. Many times I have attended pot luck dinners, church dinners, funeral dinners, and other events. Invariably someone always brings deviled eggs..... but usually by the time I get to the buffet table.... they are all gone! So many times I have looked around... and wondered ... who was the lucky person to get the last deviled egg..... did they not know how much I longed for them!
Enter Aunt Sharron into the picture. Having been raised in the genre of some is good... more is better.... and excess is best.... Aunt Sharron came to the party yesterday..... and made my day!
As usual, I waited and let all the little ones fix their plates. Then all of the teenagers fixed their plates. Then... it was my turn. I headed off to the kitchen hoping to find a deviled egg left to go with the massive ham coronary that was residing on my plate. I cannot begin to tell you how surprised I was to find not only a deviled egg left.... but an ABUNDANCE of them! It was like they had somehow become invisible .... and everyone missed them! I was in embryonic poultry preparation heaven! Thank You Lord... for giving me the desires of my heart.
As I fixed my plate I began to think about arriving in Heaven. Wow... what a day that is going to be. There will be no shortages there. There will be no disappointment there. You see... God is not a God of barely enough.. or never enough. My God is the God of more than enough. I am sure that God will appoint my Aunt Sharron to prepare the "heavenly" eggs in Glory land. There is no doubt that she has HIS secret recipe.
More than anything.... I want you all to remember to cherise the times, the love and the meals that you share with family and loved ones. Make time in your busy schedules to enjoy these times... and last of all.... if Aunt Sharron is not going to be at a family get together... save me a deviled egg!
Love, Honor, Service
Pastor Eugene
LOL. Love it!
ReplyDelete