A Story of a Generally Selfish Girl and Green Bean Love

Hey guys,

This is the day for green beans with crunchies on top, which reminds me of a story of yesteryear. (Does that sound cool if I say yesteryear?)

We had stuffed ourselves on wild turkey fed to us by dear friends, and then we loaded up our leftovers and headed to the church. I rejoiced on the way that there was half a pan of green beans with crunchies on top leftover. I was going to enjoy those all week long for lunch.

We entered the church kitchen like we do every year after our family feast. Our church makes turkey dinners and packages them, to take all over town for people who have to work on Thanksgiving Day. We have fun loading our arms with boxes of food to give to hotel clerks, gas station workers, and firemen.

Except this time someone had made a mistake in the packaging process. We were short several meals.

Whatever would we do?

You know, don’t you.

That I had to go to the car and get that precious 9 x 13 of green beans with crunchies.

Divvy them up among styrofoam trays.

Not just that but the caramel apple cake that was on my grandma’s glass serving platter.

The cake, people!

Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

I read Voice of the Martyrs, so I know laying down one’s life often means literally that.

But sometimes it means laying down one’s selfish desire to heat up green beans the day after Thanksgiving.

And it means saying, Goodbye caramel apple cake, goodbye.

Because you love people.

And I love you, too, dear friend who reads my emotional roller coaster blog. I hope you have a most wonderful day. May you be filled with the love of Christ. May your cream be whipped and not squirted from the can. May your green beans have extra crunchies.

[Note: My teenage son says, eeeuuuuwww. No crunchies. He also wants the photo credit.]