What’s your favorite thing about visiting another town? Mine is eating at local restaurants that we don’t have back home. It’s usually a great experience. Usually.
Recently I was in a small town when lunch time rolled around. I was excited because I was going to eat at a local Barbeque restaurant. A couple of different people had recommended it to me, so I was giddy with excitement when I pulled into the parking lot. I did notice there wasn’t a lot of cars there. As I walked into the dinning area, I was going over in my head I was going to order. Soon, I realized I was the only one there. I didn’t even see anybody at the register or in the kitchen. Then a man walked in behind me and said, “Sorry, we’re closed on Mondays.” Needless to say, I was disappointed, but there was still hope.
A diner up the road had been recommended to me as well. They said it had great hamburgers and fries. Let me tell you, I love a good diner burger. In my mind, I imagined myself taking a big bite of one with mayo and ketchup running down my face. So, I jumped back into my car and drove up the road. Even though I was keeping an eye out for the diner, I missed it. There was no sign at the road. I guess in a small town everybody knows where the diners are located. I quickly turned around and drove back to it. I’ll give you one guess at the sign I saw in the it’s window: “We’re closed on Mondays.”
There’s one more thing that I haven’t mentioned. I needed to be somewhere else by a certain time and it was drawing close. At that point, I was disappointed again, frustrated, and still hungry. Next, I went to a sandwich shop. I thought it wouldn’t take but a few minutes, so I should have time to eat. Right? Again, it wasn’t what I had envisioned. The sandwich shop employees were working very hard, but it still took a while to get my sandwich. They were waiting on us in line, those in the drive thru, and working on on-line orders. When I finally got my order, I paid for it and ran.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (KJV)
BBQ and burgers can momentarily fill your stomach, but you need soul food for true, lasting satisfaction. Soul food as in righteousness; as in God’s word. These will satisfy you in a way that nothing else this side of eternity can do.
When I finally sit down to eat my sandwich, I realized they had made it with the wrong bread. I asked for wheat and they gave me rye. I ate it anyway and you know what? It was really good. But then again, I was really hungry.
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.