One of my favorite traditions during the Christmas season is our next door neighbors annual post Thanksgiving pig picking. The whole neighborhood is invited. It's a wonderful time to catch up with the college students who are home for break. A great time seeing older neighbors who aren't out as much during the colder months. Fantastic Food! In addition to BBQ there are chicken breasts, slaw, hushpuppies, baked beans, and drum roll....desserts. In fact, there are desserts as far as the eye can see. Pecan pie, lemon pie, coconut cake, chocolate pie. For exactly 5.09079 seconds I say to myself "Just eat the protein you ate too much on Thanksgiving Day". Then logic takes over. I've already stuffed myself on Thanksgiving day why not go ahead and go for the gold?
On Black Friday our neighbor begins his preparations. He is meticulous. He takes everything out of his garage. Hoses the garage down. Scrubs the floors. He puts the contents of the garage, being used for the pig picking, in the driveway or yard. He then cleans each and every chair and table that is being set up in the driveway and on the lawn. He puts up card tables in the garage to hold the "fixin's" and beverages. Next he sets up the firepit to keep everyone warm.
The grand finale is when he tows, with his SUV, the pig cooker into the driveway. He carefully unhitches the cooker and sets it up. Next he takes the pig out of the back of the truck. Places it on the grill. For the next 24 hours he stokes the fire and gingerly cooks the pig. For a good day we can smell the smokey ploom of air in our backyard. It is divine. It beckons you across the hedge to check on the status of the BBQ.
When it is all said and done that pig is the best you will ever taste! All white meat and zero grease. Cooked to perfection. Stuart truly could give up his law practice and market his BBQ and homemade sauces. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we all gather in their driveway at 1PM. Stuart says the blessing and everyone digs in. It is truly a feast fit for a king.
I find great comfort in knowing, just as Stuart has meticulously been preparing that pig, the Lord is lovingly preparing a place for us in heaven. With all of the turmoil that is starting to unfold in the world Jesus has not forgotten us. He is gingerly, meticulously, and lovingly preparing a hiding place for us in heaven. Our eternal home.
He pursues us, woos us, calls to us to walk with Him. He is preparing the best for us. He has prepared a grand feast for us. A joyous life with Him forever. We did nothing to deserve the invitation.
God sacrificed His one and only son for us. I don't think many of us stop long enough to imagine the magnitude of that statement. Can you imagine sending your child to die for a sinful world such as ours? And yet He still wants to have a relationship with us!
As we go into this Christmas season think about what Jesus means to you. Has His birth meant anything to you? Have you thanked Him? Have you invited Him into your heart? Or are you too busy to make time for Him? What have you prepared for him? He wants nothing more than to be in relationship with us. To secure a place for us at the feast. To spend all eternity with Him. He has sent His best for us. What have you prepared for Him?
“Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe."-John 14:29
