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10 Minutes Peace
by Susan McGrath
When my husband and I were first married we were broke. We bought basic groceries but not many favorite snacks or treats. One day my mom called and said she had a platter of one of my favorite snacks leftover from a get-together at her house. I was taco dip - the layered kind with refried beans, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, cheese, tomato - yum!
She brought "the platter of ambrosia" over with a couple of bags of tortilla chips and I couldn't wait to savor it. I was even considering eating the entire thing and not sharing any with my husband. The only drawback was that I had been suffering (and I don't use that word lightly) from a cold and had not been able to taste anything for at least 24 hours.
I just knew, though, that my taste buds would not fail me with this delight. As I took the first bite I recognized the texture of each layer, felt the chip crunch, and kept anticipating the burst of flavor. It never came. I tried another, sure that the spice of the salsa would cut through my stuffed up senses and allow me to enjoy at least a few bites.
An occasional tease of flavor came through, but it was decidedly unsatisfying. Half a platter later I decided to give up and put the remains in the fridge for another day. Of course it wouldn't taste as good the second day, but then considering I hadn't really tasted it at all, it couldn't be worse.
Despite how badly I wanted to taste my favorite snack the virus which had invaded my body effectively blocked the pleasant taste that I longed to experience. I believe the sin which invades my life often does the same with God's good gifts. I sometimes can't see past my selfish focus to receive the delicious things God has offered me.
That sin may be something that is easy to slip into, like slacking on my scripture reading and prayer time or as blatant as resentment of a Christian brother or sister. As I ask God to reveal these sins to me and I repent of them, He begins to heal my spirit and His blessings begin to flavor my life.
"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8
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a recovering journalist trying to encourage others and glorify God through writing;
living the small-town life with husband Tim and sons Lincoln, 12, and Sawyer, 6;
completing a few put-off writing projects while using chocolate for therapy.
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