Mom called her son who was priest to come over for Sunday afternoon dinner. She was making lasagna his favorite. When she brought the tray out, took the aluminum foil off the top. he took a look and blurted out – “What’s that?
Mom very simply responded “Lasagna” – “But – What happened to it?” At which point his dad was trying to stop himself from laughing. His mother, now holding a knife in her hand just said “Nothing…nothing happened to it” “But why does it look like that?” It kind of looked like a flat tire… Angrily slicing it and serving it, she said “Just shut up and eat it…it’s good – just try it”
Denying there was anything wrong or different about it, he went over to the garbage – which she tried to block me from doing… and found an empty box what was labeled “No boil lasagna.”
He knew there was something wrong but this was no way near as good what his mom normally makes.
The reality is that none of us likes to hear “You can do better…”
If it’s just some random person who offers unsolicited criticism we might respond: “Who asked you, Jerk???” But if it comes from a teacher, a coach, our mom, or a really good friend – that’s quite a different thing, isn’t it? In those instances, we realize it’s coming from someone who cares about us, who knows us, and probably knows – we’re capable of much more than whatever it is we’ve offered.
How about us? We know all too well how difficult, how
challenging it is to follow Jesus Christ, follow his teachings ourselves. We
struggle, we’re tempted, we fail and fall. Sometimes multiple times a day (an
hour?) But hopefully what makes it possible for us to dare to come before the is
that in spite of those struggles and failures, we have experienced, we’ve come
to know and believe in the immense love and mercy of God for us. God never
tires of forgiving us, it is we who get tired of asking for forgiveness. Jesus
casting his light into our darkness isn’t meant to hurt or embarrass us. It’s
to help become the best person we can be.
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends that we do not get discouraged when the recipe does not rise, or our efforts fail to please. Instead of getting mad at our spouse or friend, give us the humility to understand that Jesus is telling us we’re worth the time, worth the concern… He knows us, knows how capable we are – the potential we hold. He knows we can do better.
