Food is like salt in our relationships and interactions – it enhances them. A hangout with friends? Better with a meal. A deep conversation with someone close? Better at the coffee shop. A celebration for your kid’s success? Better with ice cream! The Bible even talks about how the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, praying, and eating together. I would expect that they devoted themselves to hearing sermons and praying, but giving “eating together” the same level of devotion? That must mean it’s pretty powerful.
Our lives are filled with opportunities to use food in a meaningful way as well.
- A book we read a while back tells the story of how the author started a weekly breakfast outing with his son leading up to the son’s 16th birthday. He had things he wanted to talk with him about and decided that would be a good opportunity to make it happen. The son hadn’t been super fired up about it initially (what teen gets excited about waking up earlier?), but after his birthday passed he wanted to continue their weekly breakfast outing because it had become a time he really enjoyed where he could connect with his dad. But while this particular example is of a father and son, the same intentional time would be beneficial for a husband and wife, friends, or anyone who is wanting time to connect with someone else more deeply.
- In our family we don’t eat out terribly often (it adds up with four kids!), but on each of the kids’ birthdays my husband takes the birthday kid to go get doughnuts for breakfast. It’s something special they all look forward to and helps set the day apart.
- Food is easy to share! Everybody knows this already. That’s why people are inundated with food when someone passes away. But gifting food at any time is a great way to show people you care about them. Maybe they have something stressful going on. Maybe they have something to celebrate! Share some food, and share some love.
If you live close to Celina, you can let “Kolache Shoppe” be some of that salt for your relationships! Our dear friends from college recently opened it, and they have done such a good job with it! I had the opportunity the other day to go by, and the atmosphere in the shop was bright and inviting, and the staff were very courteous. It was busy, but in a Chick-fil-A kind of way – everyone was getting helped in an efficient, “my pleasure” manner – as opposed to a Braum’s kind of way – where you sigh and look at your watch, wondering how long it is going to take to get through the line. (I am a big fan of Braum’s ice cream, but I have several funny bad customer service stories from there!)
In the name of supporting our friends, I had to try a few different options. 😉 The cinnamon roll was quite tasty (I have also tried them from Panera before and this one was WAY better), Korey liked his jalapeno sausage and cheese kolache, and everyone enjoyed the fruit kolaches. When I set the box of them out at home they were all gone very quickly.
I encourage you to let Jake and Courtney’s heart for serving others to have a positive impact on your life and relationships, whether you consider going there for a weekly outing or a special event or gifting their food to others. (I did buy a few to give to someone else, and it was like a little “I love you” in a paper bag.) And for those that don’t live close enough for that to happen, well, you’re missing out. But I hope you can find somewhere else that can bring some extra joy to your relationships, even if it’s not quite as good. 😜
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