He was coming home! It was about two weeks from the end of our son’s first deployment, and my heart sang with joy. I’d been discussing his homecoming with my husband, and I was in full planning mode—specifically, deep into meal planning.
I’m not a huge planner when it comes to meals and menus. I envy friends who map out a week or even a month of meal plans. Somehow I missed that gene when God created me. I’m much more the “let’s have chicken tonight,” looking to see what veggies and sides I have on hand. So, sitting down and working on possible menus left my family shaking their heads in wonder.
But this was important—to my son and to me. Some of our conversations had centered around how much he missed real food, and even how much he missed my cooking.
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Out came pen and paper, stacks of cookbooks and online resources. I searched my memory for anything that he had ever commented on that he enjoyed. I didn’t just plan one meal, I planned 15. Then I shopped for all the ingredients so I’d have them on hand when he was available to eat with us. I even stocked up on extra supplies so if he wanted friends or other family to join us, we’d have plenty.
How did that work out? Surprisingly well. By planning ahead, it gave me time to spend with him and reduced stress. It also brought me great joy to surprise him with remembered favorites.
After it was all said and done, it did something else—it gave me greater insight into God’s character. The Bible promises us over and over that God wants to bless us, that He has plans to bless us and that He takes great joy in blessing us. With my meal planning experience, I got a glimpse of how God works to bless us.
I resolved right there to take more time to thank God for the things that He orchestrates in my life to bring me joy. This awareness has changed my entire outlook. God does love us, and He goes to great lengths to show us when we open our eyes and look around.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11, ESV)
