I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:3-4
I love dessert. My journey with dessert goes back to my earliest memories. Whether it was a biscuit with cane syrup and butter or a cake or pie from mama’s oven—I loved dessert. Sometimes when there was nothing else, I would grab a teaspoon from the drawer and shovel in a teaspoon of sugar. Hey, when it’s all you have—it’s all that you have.
Two dessert memories spring from my earlier years. I remember my mama having to have surgery when I was about 10 years old. Two things happened during that time that were monumental. First, dad took care of us. Daddy was a bring-home-the-bacon kind of guy and mom took care of the kids and the house. Well, with her in the hospital and daddy not cooking much—things were a bit different in the kitchen. I remember one night we were coming home from the hospital and daddy stopped at a place called Milligan’s Burgers and I had my first taste of a fast-food hamburger. It was kinda like a Krystal Burger and it was a big deal.
Something else that happened during mama’s hospital stay showed her love for me and solidified my love for desserts. During her stay, the “three-little-ones” and my daddy made our nightly visit to the hospital. We walked into her room and there she was in her hospital bed with the tray thing (much like today) beside her bed. She said, “Dewayne, I saved you something from my supper.” There on her tray in a small bowl was a serving of “blueberry crunch.” It was like a small blueberry, crunch top pie and it was delicious. To this day I never eat anything blueberry with a crunch top without thinking about my mama’s love.
Years later, my oldest brother and I were visiting another brother out in Texas. It was a man-trip that included driving all night, camping in the mountains, and eating. When we got back from the mountain part, we had a last supper of sorts, and his wife made cherry cheesecake. Well, I thought I had died and gone to heaven and ate a whole lot more than I should have. After supper we hit the road for the long drive back to Florida and before long, I wished I could die and go to heaven. All that cherry cheesecake started rolling around in my belly and we had to make more than one stop—and it wasn’t for gas.
Yup…dessert and I go way back. When we go visit someone for supper, I always enjoy the food and fellowship, but I also always hold back a little room for dessert. I know the best is yet to come. The story is told of a woman who wanted to be buried with a spoon in her casket. When asked why, she said, “Well, when I go to someone’s house for supper, the hostess will lean down and say, “Be sure and keep your spoon.” I always smile when that happens because I know that means that there is dessert and the best is yet to come.” I like that.
In this crazy, upside down world of the never-ending story of COVID, racial injustice, violence and what’s sure to be a crazy election time, we probably should all carry a spoon in our pocket. You ask, “Why should we do that?” Well, it would remind us that this crazy world is not the end. It would remind us that for every person who is Christ follower, who can call God Dearest Father, there is more—much more. That beyond this life is eternal life—that the best is surely yet to come.
I am so grateful for the life that God has given me. Like a delicious meal filled with good old Southern comfort food, I enjoy each day…mostly. Honestly though, life is filled too with warts, bumps and more than a few bruises. But it seems like at the table of this banquet called life, I can hear the Whisperer lean over and say, “Be sure and keep your spoon.” When that happens, I know He is reminding me that the best is yet come. As good as life is here, it is going to be a million times better there. The Bible speaks of heaven as a place of no sickness, no pain, no sorrow, no separation and no more death. It is like dessert on steroids. I. Can’t. Wait.
Well, I know I need to keep my love affair with desserts in check. Both my doctor and my wife Judy remind me of that. But each time I get to indulge, you can take it to the bank that I’m gonna remember that there is more than this hot mess coming and it is going to be good. You know, sometimes when Judy is cooking I go in and sneak a taste. I love to sneak a bite of cookie dough when she isn’t looking. It’s just a sample of the finished product. Take time today to crawl up with Jesus and take a rest. It will just be a taste of what is coming in eternity…just enough to keep you wanting as you wait. And then, remember this…that the Master Maker of dessert—God—has all this under control. Yup…He’s got this.
Grits with Grace 