Fried Chicken and Apple Pie!

My sister came in this week from California for the funeral of my Dad. It has been a wonderful week of family. I took a few days off to just enjoy the moment. It is becoming increasingly apparent to me that these times are opportunities that must be savored and enjoyed. We went to various restaurants, we sat at home and just talked with other family members, and because job commitments don’t understand that vacation days off means no work – we worked! When I asked her what she wanted to do on her last night here, there was only one thing – I had to cook – and not just cook – cook fried chicken and make apple pie!

Like a magnet, the menu reached across the city and other family members came, not just to see Auntie Dodie, but because they heard that I was cooking! I confess the big family dinners are becoming fewer and farther between – I’m at the stage when I want someone to cook for me – but it wasn’t always like that – it was my every day duty to see that my brood of eight, my nephews, my sisters and brothers, people at the church, and even people who visited the church would all assemble at our home for fried chicken, and…sometimes the sides changed, sometimes desert was pineapple upside down cake (a family favorite and so easy to make) – but the one standard was the chicken!

In those days I wasn’t thinking about the significance of the chicken – chicken was an inexpensive meal to feed a crowd – and frying the chicken was the fastest and easiest way for me to get a quick meal on the table. But what that meal meant to my family and the whosoever’s that joined us – was a celebration of all the best that Sunday meant. Coming from church to a family meal with favorite foods somehow took the edge off whatever else was going on in our lives. There was a comfort and a peace that all was well -it was going to be alright!

I confess that after I completed cooking the meal on Friday I was exhausted. My day had begun at 5:30 a.m. when my other sister came for me to drop her off at the bus stop – then off to work for a conference in the rain and blocked off streets – then to the grocery store – then the process of preparing the meal – but when I saw the family begin to gather – when I heard the laughter – and felt the fellowship – it was all worth it! These are the moments i lived for as the children grew up – these are the moments I cherish even today.

When we look at the works of Jesus we find an interesting entry:

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”[ Mt 11:18-20

Jesus found the secret of reaching the hearts of men – by breaking bread – it’s still true today!

God Bless You on this Lord’s Day!
Maria