Give us each day our daily bread.

~Luke 11:3 NIV

She sliced the cake…and strangers became friends.

I don’t mean to brag on my wife’s cooking—well, actually I do—but she is a marvelous cook. One of her specialties is peanut butter cake, and my mom wanted one for her birthday, which we planned to celebrate at a well-liked local restaurant.

My wife called ahead and made reservations. Eleven of us gathered at the tables they pushed together for our group and enjoyed a meal. Mom was excited to be with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

When everyone finished eating, my wife popped the latches on the Tupperware cake holder and lifted the lid. Comments erupted, but not from our table. I heard them from the threesome sitting at the table beside me. “Ooh, look at that cake.” “Aww, that looks good.”

After my wife had sliced and handed everyone at our table a piece of cake, I turned to my neighbors and asked, “Want a piece of cake?” Without thinking, they responded, “Yes, we do.”

My act led to conversation. They wanted to know whose birthday it was and how old Mom was. And when they left, they thanked us again for the cake and our kindness. We made new friends.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.

~Luke 7:36 NLT

Jesus often used eating as an opportunity to make new friends, chat with existing friends, and share His teachings. He even ate with enemies, such as were most of the Pharisees, and by doing so some of them became His friends. Jesus used this particular occasion to not only enjoy a good meal but also to caution Simon about selfishness.

Meals with others—friends or potential friends—open doors for conversations of all types. Conversations we might not have time to have or feel comfortable having within the walls of a church building. People are generally more relaxed away from such a formal setting.

Eating together breaks down barriers. After all, how often do we eat with enemies? If we do, the chances are great they might become friends.

A meal together also gives the opportunity to show kindness, especially a meal at our home. My wife is the social butterfly in our family, and having friends over for a meal is common at our house.

If you want to be like Jesus, prepare some food and ask a few folks over. You never know where your act of kindness and the resulting conversation might lead.

Share a memory where friendships were strengthened over a meal.

Heavenly Father, help me to be generous, especially through sharing meals with friends. Thank You for the Word, which serves as daily bread to my spirit. Thank You also for the Communion meal instituted by Your Son, which unites believers as the body of Christ.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2020: Food and Friends: Martin Wiles: All Rights Reserved