A Note From Rob ...
Week of May 10
The following story has always been one of grace to me. It is no way an effort to canonize my mother. Like the
rest of us, Mama was not a perfect parent. However, also like the rest of us she tried to show her children they
were loved. It probably will touch a nerve with many who might read it.
I am not sure if my love for fried chicken is an acquired taste or if I was just born with the chicken lovin’ gene in
my DNA. Either way, fried chicken was a staple in our weekly menu when I was growing up. Five people had to
make 2 meals from the Sunday bird. Daddy got one breast at each meal. My older sister got a thigh at each meal.
My younger sister and I both enjoyed a leg at lunch and a wing at supper. Now if you have been counting we are
about out of chicken parts The only pieces left were the neck, back, liver, heart and gizzard. I never knew what
the gizzard was. So, I looked it up. You don’t want to know. Mama took her favorites, the neck, back, and the
assorted other parts left lying around. See above!
After my sister left home that meant we had more chicken pieces to go around. Once in an effort to please my
mother I put her favorite piece of fried chicken on her plate, the back. She returned it to the plate and took a thigh.
I asked why she took a thigh since the back was her favorite piece of chicken. She then told me that the only
reason the back had been her favorite was so her children could have the “better” pieces of chicken.
That was one of the first memories I have of self-giving grace. It seemed fitting this weekend to tell you that story
as we prepare to talk about bearing the fruit of love as followers of Jesus. The reality is that many parents have
sacrificed to give their children “a better piece” in life. That can not compare with God’s gift of Jesus to show his
love for us but from a human perspective, it works for me.
If I wanted to find an earthly example of the kind of love God had for us and the kind of love we are called to
share, this one speaks to me. How about you? Has someone given of themselves so you might have the better in
life?
Beloved, if God so loved us. We ought to so love one another.
I hope to see you Sunday.
RETURN
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