Our Lunch at the Waffle House

Occasionally, God gives us the eyes to see.  And if we are walking with Him, looking for Him, finding Him in His Word, we realize He frequently and continually gives us these eyes to see.  Because He is at work.  Always.  And He deeply desires to give us the gift of His vision. 

So often, it is life’s “small” occurrences that awaken me to this, sharpening my gaze and increasing my fellowship with this tender, loving, involved God.  After the church service a couple of weeks ago (that I wrote about in “Three Years”), our little family decided to grab a quick lunch at the Waffle House, a Meade and Mary Elizabeth favorite.  It may not be fancy, but it is consistently good and always homey.

Meade and I each ordered our usual: a grilled cheese with bacon and a side of hash browns.  We requested the kids’ waffle for Daniel (it is amazing how easy it is when they start eating table food; who knew?!).  And on a whim, we decided to order a scrambled egg for John.  Yes, you heard us right… the parents who have only fed this child homemade, organic, non-dairy, non-gluten, no sugar added, no salt added food for almost three years ordered him a greasy egg at the Waffle House.  Granted, eggs are on his diet, but this was a first for us. 

And it was WONDERFUL! 

We ate, laughed, talked, managed our boys, ate some more, and left as quickly as we blew in to take Daniel home for his nap.  Yet as we sat in that cozy booth as a family, spoon-feeding John his scrambled and diced egg, it hit me.  We are living.  Really living. 

I reflected on that morning’s sermon, when my childhood pastor talked about “joining the party,” proclaiming we have been invited… graciously given a place in the Father’s house.

In our seemingly insignificant Waffle House moment, I was given the opportunity to praise God.  To lift the silverware and lift hands.  Despite the residual pain, I realized our family is now in a place where we celebrate more often than not.  We simply loved our time as a family at the Waffle House... all participating, all sharing in the feast.  What did this quick meal represent?  Healing.  Restoration.  Normalcy.  That our family’s time had come.  In that moment at least, we had joined the party.

A few days after our Waffle House lunch, my mom came over bearing the gift of eggs (in a bag with tissue paper and all) for John!  A fun way to celebrate his 3 years of seizure freedom and God's continued healing in our family.

Pain undoubtedly remains in this broken world, stinging even as it simultaneously gives us the Lord’s eternal perspective.  However, God IS making things new and right.  There is great hope that we have the privilege of being in the Father’s House.  The feast is prepared.  And we are all invited.  Let’s join the party.  Embrace life again.  There is much to celebrate… at the Waffle House and in God’s Kingdom.

But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

-Hebrews 3:6

Classic Daniel... marching down John's slide (where John works on his army crawling), holding his truck, ball in his mouth, and carrying a big stick.  :)