Good Gravy!
The picture is not me getting ready to clobber someone. It’s just my pie baking day. But I’m taking a few minutes to share a sweet memory and thought with you all. On Thanksgiving 1994 I was seven months pregnant with a big baby boy and struggling with toxemia. (I eventually ended up on a few weeks of bedrest and then gave birth to my youngest–a 9 lb. 3 oz. son whom I adore!) That year some of my family came to us. It was such an honor to have not only my parents here, but also my grandparents–whom I also adored. My mom and grandma were doing most of the meal prep while I rested. Now they were both very good cooks, so it seemed uncharacteristic that they were struggling so much with making the turkey gravy. No matter how much flour they added, it just wouldn’t thicken up. Finally, they both tasted it. You know the old saying, “The proof is in the pudding”? Well, in this case, the proof was in the gravy. They came to discover the sweetest gravy you can imagine. You see, they had been taking powdered sugar out of an unmarked canister rather than flour. Well, the situation was remedied and we enjoyed a great meal, as usual.
Sometimes we just don’t know how something will be until we taste it. Sometimes it’s the only way to know the truth. Now, we can apply this to our big meals this Thanksgiving. We should all try the food items, even if they don’t look inviting. And be polite if we do not like a particular dish. But let’s make a more important analogy here. If you are keeping a relationship with Jesus or being part of a church family at arm’s length, perhaps you should give it a try. If you are already a follower of Jesus but struggle sometimes with knowing what’s true, keep seeking and asking and knocking. Truth can be found in Him. Don’t believe the lies that the enemy whispers in your ear. You are valued and loved. God is for you. You have a divine purpose. You are seen.
This Thanksgiving as we gather with others, let’s seek the truth in every situation and lean more into Jesus. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and may your gravy be sweet–but not too sweet!
“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious–the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (Philippians 4:8 MSG)
