Cooking a Meal

One week ago tonight we grabbed some friends and headed down to Breakthrough to prepare the evening meal for those beautiful ladies.

It exceeded our expectations.

The week leading up to the supper got me to really thinking about a few things. We had all sorts of options. Since we were feeding 32 women the temptation was to go inexpensive. Maybe pasta. That can be stretched far. And easy. Can't get much easier than brownies out of a box. {And that would have been perfectly wonderful. The ladies would have loved it, I'm sure.}

But as I was figuring out the meal plan I couldn't stop thinking about this: If I were to have people into my home I would feed them a nice meal. I would do a roast and potatoes and veggies and yummy homemade dessert. Or something comparable. I would set a pretty table. I would want them to feel special by how I fed them and prepared for their visit. That's important to me.

And then it dawned on me. While we can't have all 32 Breakthrough gals into our home, we're actually going to their home ... so why not bring the pretty and delicious to them.

There are some verses in Luke that I kept thinking of: "Then Jesus said ... When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed."

I'm telling you, I kept thinking of those verses and I just felt very strongly that this time, what we did for these ladies needed to be special. Like a banquet. Because quite frankly, they deserve it.

And so, the plan began. We were gonna do it up right. Ham, yummy potatoes, veggie, salad, lemon dessert and parsley as a garnish! My friends were in.

We divvied up the work and when we arrived it was exciting.

We set the tables with tablecloths and individual place settings {the ladies usually go through a cafeteria-style line and get their own utensils and drinks.} We pulled out the candles. There were six kids from preschool to middle school, all jumping in and serving. And I have to say it was so fulfilling to watch each child want to get involved. They all helped, from chopping the veggies to placing the napkins to pouring the drinks to serving the meals. It was BEAUTIFUL.

We all looked dorky in our hairnets and plastic aprons, but when you're serving together those details only make for fun memories and shared service. Before we ate there was a staff-led devotional that was really sweet. We sat back and listened to these ladies speak truth from God's word. To be encouraged. To be blessed. Powerful.

Patricia wasn't there when we first arrived but part-way through the meal she walked in the door. Maddie and Jackson both happened to be in the kitchen at that point and when they heard her voice and saw her they both TOOK OFF RUNNING. Maddie raced out of the kitchen, around the corner and ran right into her arms saying, "PATRICIA!", giving her the biggest hug you could imagine a little 7-year-old could give. And Jackson. Well, he took off running but tripped on his white plastic apron and went crashing onto the floor. So after we got the tears stopped and the apron readjusted, he found Patricia and also gave her a great.big.hug.

I'm constantly struck by this: so often we set out to serve, which is good and God-inspired, but in the process of serving it's as if God says, "Okay Alysa, watch Me do my thing. You came to serve and you are going to be served and blessed. You are going to be touched and moved. I'm gonna do some work in your life just because you acted out your faith."

He's good like that. When you love other people in Jesus' name He produces a joy and peace and love that could only come from Him. I really don't know how to describe it that well but I tell you what, get out there and serve for Jesus and you'll totally get what I'm talking about. I promise.

I was SO proud of each of the kids. They worked hard. They loved it. When we left I asked each of them if they wanted to come back again and serve supper and they all enthusiastically said, "YES!"

I'm telling you. These Breakthrough ladies are delightful.

I regret that I didn't get pictures of Jack and Tim interacting with the ladies and helping to serve. And I didn't get more pictures of the kids doing their thing. But the reality is, when we're there I really do try to keep the pictures to a minimum because I don't want this to be about us and I don't want the ladies to feel exploited. I just wanna come in, love on them, and quietly leave, hoping we've all been touched by God in some small way.

So if you want in on the next supper just let me know. I'd love, love, LOVE to introduce you to Breakthrough. And I'd love for my Breakthrough friends to meet you.

I love when my worlds collide.

I love that!