Veggie Straws on Thanksgiving

You prepare a table before me

    GrubHub has nothing on my mother-in-law

    She made a Thanksgiving feast with all the fixin's 

        turkey, ham

        mashed potatoes

        green beans

        dressing

        rolls

        cooked apples

        deviled eggs

        lemon pound cake and chocolate earthquake cake        

        

in the midst of all humanity's current enemy -- the coronavirus

    and delivered it to our door

       for each family unit to eat separately

       because of a recent exposure to the virus

            that left us all quarantining

My cup overflows...

    Not with extended family in person

        but connected via technology

        and eating together, but separately, the same menu

        lovingly prepared

So why do I find myself,

    as I portion out the food for the six of us,

        grabbing for the stray veggie straws on the counter?

        It's -4 minutes until our Thanksgiving feast

            and I'm busy eating a snack

            

I tell the boys not to eat right before dinner

    so they don't lose their appetite

        and here I am...

These random happenings throughout my days

    often have spiritual parallels

                                and principles underneath

            if I let the Lord speak

I thought of the FEAST set before me, spiritually,

            and how I often settle for veggie straws --

                the quick

                    convenient

                    easy-to-grab

                    temporary satisfiers

                     and instant gratifiers

               those empty calories

                    and lesser pleasures clamoring for my attention

If I will discipline myself

    to sit at the table for the feast,

        I will leave full and satisfied

Or I can take the easy road of veggie straws

    and not have any appetite left

        for the feast that has been lovingly prepared

            for me

You, Father, bring me to the banqueting house (Song of Solomon 2:4)

    and prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (Psalm 23:5)

Will I choose veggie straws 

                or Thanksgiving feast?

(poem written 11-28-20)