For the coming weeks I plan to share some personal reflections regarding holiday memories. It will take us either to Christmas or to the point that I run out of memories (hopefully the former). This will give me a chance to continue posting some reflections while I give attention to another writing project I have begun. Perhaps my own memories will spark those of your own. And of course, we want to look for the God-connection by visiting the holidays of past years.
Thanksgiving, as with other holidays in my family, was celebrated in a pretty traditional manner. Mom would prepare a meal with an oven roasted turkey taking the lead role. We had an electric knife (remember those?) that may have been used twice during the year. Dad would use it to carve the turkey into nicely prepared slices. Mashed potatoes were a regular feature, along with stuffing, “Brown ‘N Serve” rolls, English peas or green beans, and maybe another item thrown in as well. Unlike most other days, we had gravy to go with the potatoes on Thanksgiving. Perhaps this small detail sticks out to me because the tableware we used for our holiday meals included a gravy boat. That set of tableware is a standard feature in my holiday memories.
It was, as we called it, “fine china.” As a kid I didn’t really know what fine china was supposed to mean. What I clearly understood was that it looked more expensive and more fragile than the plates and dishes we used every other day. It was, in an obvious sense, special. It was special because it was more valuable. It was also special because it was used for special occasions. And because it was special, we treated it with more care than our other tableware.
I recall many years ago being at a conference in North Carolina and hearing a speaker use this analogy to speak about the youth of that day. Of course, it was long enough ago that the “youth” of that day are well into adulthood now. Regardless, the point is still valid for youth of today as well as people of any age. The speaker drew a contrast between fine china and paper plates. One you handle with great care, and the other you throw away with no regard. Why the difference? Because the value of each is perceived differently. We treat something differently when we see it as valuable. Otherwise, it is easy to treat something as disposable. This idea describes not only the plates from which we eat, but the very way we see our own worth.
If a person considers herself or himself as being of little value, that person will behave in like manner. This can lead to a careless attitude toward self-care, and low esteem can lead to harmful choices. As a challenge to this kind of mindset, Jesus wants us to know how God sees us. The Bible says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), that we are “God’s workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10), that God knows us so well that even the hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7), and that God loves us so much that He gave Jesus to die so that we would have life (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). That sounds much more like fine china than like paper plates.
If you find yourself enjoying a holiday meal this year where the host is using the “good stuff” to serve, take a moment to remember how God looks upon you. You are of infinite value to God. Treat yourself in light of this truth.
See you along the Winding Path.
