I love bread. It doesn’t matter what kind; I just really love bread. I find it to be extremely tasty and satisfying at any time of day. Here is a story of a man who also really loved bread.
An elderly man went to a diner every day for lunch. He always ordered the soup du jour. One day the manager asked him how he liked his meal. The old man replied, “Was good, but you could give a little more bread.”
So the next day, the manager told the waitress to give him four slides of bread. “How was your meal, sir?” the manager asked. “Was good, but you could give a little more bread,” came the reply.
So the next day, the manager told the waitress to give him eight slices of bread. “How was your meal today, sir?” the manager asked. “Was good, but you could give maybe a little more bread,” came the reply.
So…the next day, the manager told the waitress to give him a whole loaf of bread with his soup. “How was your meal, sir?” the manager asked when he came to hand him the bill. “Was good, but you could give maybe a little more bread,” came the reply once again.
The manager was obsessed with seeing this customer say that he is satisfied with his meal, so he went to the bakery and ordered a six-foot-long loaf of bread. When the man came in as usual the next day, the waitress and manager cut the loaf in half, buttered the entire length of each half, and laid it out along the counter, right next to his bowl of soup. The old man sat down and devoured his bowl of soup and both halves of the six-foot-long loaf of bread.
The manager now thinks he will get the answer he is looking for, and when the old man came up to pay for his meal, the manager asked in the usual way, “How was your meal TODAY, sir?” The old man replied, “It was good as usual, but I see that you’re back to giving only two slices of bread.”
Often times, we crave to get more out of life. We strive to get as much as we can so that we can feel satisfied. But when we keep trying to gain the things in life that don’t fill us up, we end up feeling empty. Then we try to fill that craving with more of whatever we think will satisfy us. But again, we find ourselves disappointed.
It’s time we have our bread examined. Instead of trying to stuff ourselves with earthly things, let’s try to become bread for others. If we can cast aside those false cravings and focus on our spiritual relationship with our heavenly Father, we will discover the ultimate satisfaction. When we take the focus off of our needs and wants, we will discover the needs and wants of others. By giving of ourselves (our time, talent, and treasure), we become sustenance for those in need.
I found this prayer in my file cabinet written by Jeannette Martino Land and it’s a really good prayer for us to reflect upon every day. It’s titled, ‘Let Me Be Bread.’
Turn me outside in and upside down, Lord.
Pummel and purify me; still me from the world’s noise.
In that sacred space, at the center of my being,
Turn me inside out and downside up!
Yeast and ferment me to be leaven in the marketplace.
Commission me to push past contemplation and embrace action!
Shape me into a loaf of bread that can be blessed, broken, and shared
So others may taste the goodness of Your love risen and baked in me.
AMEN!
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” ~John 6:51
Do you ever wonder what God is like? Then you need to check out this classic story.
