“I’m so sorry to hear the kids are sick. Can we bring something over?”
I set my phone down, grimacing at my kiddo’s runny noses and lingering coughs. I can't remember the last time I intentionally spent time with this dear childhood friend. Yet my mind races with reasons to say no: I’m tired, the laundry basket is overflowing, and the kitchen floor is littered with crumbs.
The cloudy sky mirrors my mood—does she really want to hang out? I’d love to connect, but don’t want to inconvenience her with a thirty-minute drive just to deliver a meal. I bite my lip, contemplating the offer.
Although the fridge is full of food, my heart is full of needs. With the demands of young children, I feel lonely. Tired. Weary. I used to have lots of bandwidth for deep conversations. I could meet a friend early in the morning for coffee, or late at night. But these days, it’s harder to connect.
I respond to her text, “Sure! Actually, feel free to eat with us too, the kids are feeling a bit better and they’d love to play.”
What I really mean is, I’m not feeling well and would like to eat, er, talk, er, connect.
While I wait, I open social media and scroll through photos and videos. A photo of a blonde woman appears: Who is she? Why am I following her? I follow hundreds of people, but do I really know about them? Most of these online ‘friends’ can’t bring food to my door. They can’t give me a hug. They can’t bring their kids to a playdate. Why do I spend so much time on this app?
“Great, I’m stopping by Whole Foods with some soup and Mac and cheese for the kids.”
I smile, more excited for the company than the food.
“Mooooom, is my friend coming over?” my toddler asks with a sing-song voice, interrupting my thoughts. “Yes kiddo, your friend is coming,” I look up at his eager green eyes and tidy away bottles of medicine and scraps of food, the kids equally excited for their visit.
A few hours later, the doorbell rings. My friend and her girls arrive with bags of goodies and contagious cheer. We embrace at the door and I’m already comforted by her warm smile and kind eyes. The kids pile into the living room, pulling out wooden puzzles and toy blocks while we dish out creamy macaroni and warm soup. I scrounge together mismatched bowls and ladle the chicken noodle soup with flakes of parsley and oregano.
We gather chairs around the small wooden table, I push aside old breakfast plates, trying to create a welcoming space. We say a prayer and dig in. When my kids cough all over the food, I pull them a little closer, reminding them to cover their mouth and wipe their nose.
We exchange the normal pleasantries, and in between slurps of soup, I share what’s really on my heart:
“Thanks for coming over. It’s been hard with sick kids and I really appreciate your visit.”
She nods sympathetically, “This is such a nice time, I’m glad it worked out.” I smile as we share the highs and lows of ministry, motherhood, and the mundane. We keep talking while slicing more bread and ladling soup. My heart is full to the brim. Although the day began under cloudy skies, the sun now peeks through, sending rays across the yard. Just like the clouds, my demeanor shifts from skeptical to optimistic.
That night, I tuck the kids into bed. “Did you have a good day?” They forget about the Mac and cheese and crunchy bread—but they don’t forget time with their friends.
This season, let us consider how to encourage one another. We never know how a simple meal could brighten someone’s day.
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” Hebrews 10:24-25
I enjoyed attending TGCW and gathering with nine thousand other women in Indianapolis! (:
I’m also enjoying TGC’s Discipline of Devotion series and reading the books on Sabbath + Prayer. They’re short and take about an hour to finish.
Glenna Marshall has a fantastic article about quitting social media. I resonate with her struggles of staying focused and enjoying long form content instead.
We sang this Shane + Shane song at the conference and it’s so good!
I wrote this piece about my hospital visit, control, and Joseph’s story. It’s more on the vulnerable side, but I’m grateful for the positive feedback.
I wish I had a recipe to share but I’ve been making Chicken Chili on repeat. Any new recipe ideas?
This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale—an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood, led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series “Sky.”
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