Made With Love

 

I made myself breakfast yesterday morning. 

I made the same cheese eggs that my dad makes me every day before work,

Yet my eggs did not taste nearly as good as his.

Same ingredients, same cooking style, but completely different outcome

Because his eggs are cooked every morning with love. 

His eggs are cooked as an act of service.

 

Over 20 years ago,

One of my friends made me a ham sandwich.

On it, she put a slice of ham, a slice of American cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, and potato chips. 

It was one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had.

All of the ingredients blended well together and the potato chips added a nice crunch. 

I tried to re-create the sandwich on my own,

But it didn’t taste nearly as good.

I determined that two ingredients were missing from my personally made sandwich,

And those ingredients were love and service. 

 

It’s not that I don’t love myself,

Although 20 years ago, it could be argued that I did not.

It’s that someone else is doing something for me,

It’s someone else sacrificing their time and effort, however simple, to make something for someone beyond themselves. 

It’s that extra little ingredient of service love that makes life so special. 

 

As we enter into holy week this week

And reflect on the last days of Jesus‘s life, May we be a people who follow in his footsteps and love others through service.

May we find small ways to lay down our lives in sacrifice 

Even as we know that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice of his life. 

May we wash feet and break bread and cook breakfast and make sandwiches for one another, 

One moment at a time. 

 

Amen.