Every morning, Lisa or I make breakfast for Jesus.
It starts with a hot cup of coffee and a little creamer. Jesus doesn’t like sugar in his coffee.
Next comes two scrambled eggs and a toasted, English muffin with butter and orange marmalade – lots of butter, and lots of marmalade. How much orange marmalade you ask? Let’s just say we buy orange marmalade by the case at Costco now. Oh, how Jesus loves his marmalade.
We set out the morning paper, a glass of water with his pills, and talk about the birds outside hunting and pecking the grass for their morning breakfast.
If I’m the one making breakfast that day, eventually I go back to my bedroom and Lisa asks me, “Has Jesus had breakfast yet, Honey?”
“Yep. I think she’s ready to get dressed.” I reply.
“Okay, Mom, time to get you dressed.” Lisa says, as she helps Jesus out of his chair and lovingly walks him down the hallway…
Are you confused?
So were we when first took my mother-in-law into our home to live with us earlier this year. How would we take care of her? An 83-year-old with Dementia can be difficult to take care of at times.
But after a couple of months of trying to adjust to this new season in our lives, Lisa shared the scripture and insight with me that has made all the difference for us:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40)
Wow, Jesus takes how we treat others very personally.
Verse 40b summarizes it: “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Lisa said, “Honey, when I struggle to serve my mother now, I just remember that I’m serving Jesus, and it helps me see it as a privilege and an honor to serve her.”
So, now, that’s our private little joke: “Has Jesus had breakfast yet?”
And I smile as I respond, “Yep, and she’s ready to get dressed.”
And it really helps. Try it...
You may not have an aging parent living with you, but you may have children that need feeding, clothing, and serving every day as well.
And my guess is that they’re not always little angels either. (Just a wild guess :-).
It helps to see serving them as serving Jesus.
Remember the words of Jesus himself: “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40b)
Or maybe you’re about to spend some time with extended family members for the Christmas holiday.
We all know that can be a mixed bag – lots of fun, and sometimes difficult – especially with that particular uncle, aunt, cousin, grandparent, etc. that drives you crazy. (We all have one – or more :-).
This Christmas season, try this mindset: however I treat that person, is how I’m treating Jesus.
It really does help. try it.
You may find yourself making breakfast for Jesus.
(And don’t forget: he likes orange marmalade – lots of it ;-)