6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”
In our family, we often talk about the Christmas when our son Seth was 2-years-old. In fact, we have kind a shorthand title for it: “The Christmas Seth Didn’t Eat Anything.” Now, if your house is like ours, there’s always a feast of good things to eat on the day of happy Yuletide celebration. On that joyful day, over a dozen years ago, Susan prepared a wonderful breakfast for us. But as we sat down to enjoy the morning meal of biscuits and eggs, along with sausage and bacon and homemade preserves—well, Seth didn’t eat anything!
And then, later on, when we sat down to our traditional dinner of turkey and dressing, ham and sweet potatoes, vegetables, bread and five desserts—well, Seth didn’t eat anything!
And finally, at supper when we sat down to enjoy the leftovers (along with treats Santa had left in our stockings)—well, Seth didn’t eat anything, again! Susan said, “Maybe he’s not feeling well. I hope he’s not coming down with something.”
We didn’t think too much about it, until it was time for the boys to get ready for bed. Susan said, “John, will you get Seth, and help him get his bath?” So, I went to his bedroom to retrieve him. At first, I couldn’ find him but then a noticed a leg sticking out from under his bed. When I pulled him out from his hiding place, he had an open bag of fun-sized candy bars in his left hand, a PayDay candy bar in his right hand, and his mouth crammed full of nougat surrounded by delicious salted peanuts. The mystery was solved!
Even though Seth was not a big talker (then, or now) we sort of pieced together the most likely scenario. About 7 a.m., Seth confiscated the sack of PayDay candy bars that Santa had left in my stocking, and having foresight, hid them under his bed. After doing that (judging from the pile of wrappers under the bed) every time Seth felt a bit hungry or weak during the day, well, he just crawled under the bed and ate a few. When we sat down for meals, it wasn’t that Seth was sick or that he didn’t like the food on the table. He was just full of other things.
I think there’s a good spiritual lesson here. The Devil doesn’t always have to make us “bad”—he just makes us “busy”. And he doesn’t have to make us hate the “meal” of reading and hearing God’s Holy Word—he just makes sure that we are “full” of other things.
Dear mama, I know you are busy with all the things that mothers are required to do. But in these busy days, take time to feed your spirit by spending time with the things of God. Our Loving Father prepares a daily feast for His children. Make sure to save some room.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad.” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is in the middle of his 25th year of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 18) and Seth (age 15) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church (where we still enjoy an occasional Payday candy bar.) He would love to hear from you in an email sent to extramailbox@juno.com.
