grits – Grits with Grace

communication, Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, Scripture, thankful

Sharing Grits

Posted on February 26, 2025February 16, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” Hebrews 13:16

My Momma taught me to share. When there are a bunch of kids and other family members in a family you learn two contradicting lessons. First, you need to share. Often, especially when it comes to the good things on a dinner table, the demand usually exceeds supply. You know, nine people and eight pieces of pie. So, you cut the pieces smaller. That is sharing. The other lesson is you need to act fast. We all know the adage that the early bird gets the worm or the one who eats his or her pie the fastest gets a shot at the last piece. That is not sharing.

Sharing and putting others first are Jesus things. He was the only guy who could go to any event and be the star of the show. Be it a wedding, a funeral, or a banquet and bam…He was the most important person in the room. But the funny thing is you never see that. You always see Him at the back of the line. The only time He was first in line was the line for the cross. That was a very short line—in fact, it was only one deep, and He was ready and willing to go because He loved us so much.

He was willing to share His righteousness too. We didn’t have any of our own, so He gave us His. The Bible says that our righteousness was like filthy rags, so He shared, in fact, He gave. It’s pretty amazing. There are some things we shouldn’t share like something told in private and maybe a cold. But, as a general rule we should be people who love to share. And that is where I need your help.

Since Grits started in March of 2020, lots of folks have been reading Grits. Through our church email list, the Grits Facebook page, and through the gritswithgrace.com blog, people have been reading. I want you know just how incredible I think that is. My goal is to be an encourager and maybe even make you smile. But most importantly, I want to share a big truth that helps us as we do life…together.

So, that is where you come in. I am wondering if you would be willing to share Grits with those in your world. The guy who wrote Hebrews (great name for a coffee shop by the way) said that we should do good things and share because God is pleased with that. That might even apply to Grits. Sign up for the blog at http://www.gritswithgrace.com, share on Facebook, or share in an email, it’s all sharing a word of encouragement.

Something happened a while back that I thought was so cool. I was notified by email that someone had read one of the Grits’ stories and decided to start following the blog. That means every day they will get an email with that day’s story. Sometimes, people just stumble onto the Grits blog, who knows how that happens? But what made this so special was this someone was a cabdriver in Southampton, England. What? Yup. And I thought that was cool.

Also a while back, my wife Judy checked (the blog tracks locations) and we have had Grits’ readers from several countries and from a chunk of the states here in America. And it usually happens because someone searches and finds a story, or someone shares it. So, would you be willing to make it a daily habit to share your Grits? It isn’t about just getting more readers but rather, it is about maybe encouraging someone who needs a lift on any given day. Together we can be encouragers and hey, the more the merrier.

Each year is a challenge, but I love the fact that God is bigger than any challenge we face. I try and make that a regular theme as I write. Life is pretty tough to go it alone and I believe that He is more than ready to walk with us. So, thanks again for reading and thanks for sharing. Oh, and by the way, for those of you who comment…thanks for that too. While some things change this is one that doesn’t. Always, “He’s got this.”Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Southern born, thankful

Salty Watermelon

Posted on May 17, 2024May 15, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:4-5

It just doesn’t make any sense. I am from the South, and we know how to do food. There are two foods that are mainstays. They are grits and watermelon. From my perspective you don’t mess with Texas, and you don’t mess with grits, and you don’t mess with watermelon. Yet, there it is as plain as day. And, for goodness’ sake, it is in my family.

My wife Judy has long been a fan of watermelon. I mean she isn’t friends with watermelon, she loves it. And just like me, she loves sweet watermelon. When we were growing up, watermelons were just about the size of a small blimp, weighing up to 30 and 40 pounds. Most of them were as sweet as sugar water. There was not a question if a melon was going to be sweet, it was just a matter of how sweet it was going to be! Those were the days.

However, somewhere along the way watermelons changed. Most of them are now the size of basketballs and weigh-in at a feather weight of 12-15 pounds. And it seems the only way to get a sweet watermelon is to inject it with sugar water. Perhaps that might be the reason Judy has gotten confused about how to make a melon taste sweeter. Someone has cast an evil spell upon her. For many years now, she has been convinced that putting salt—that’s right salt—on watermelon somehow makes it sweeter. What? Listen, I’ve tried this, and the only thing salt does to watermelon is make it salty.

I’ve tried to remove this evil spell but to no avail. And she even uses it against me. She will sometimes cut up a watermelon and then sprinkle…or dump…salt all over it. She knows then that the melon is all hers. It is a devious plan indeed. But that is what happens when you mess with melons.

Now the second problem is as bad. Everyone knows that grits are not cream of wheat and not oatmeal …so you do not…and I repeat DO NOT…put sugar on grits. It is a travesty of justice, and some would say very close to a sin. If God had wanted grits to be sweet, He would have made them that way. I have a very good friend who has been mesmerized by a spell and he is convinced that sugar goes on grits. It is a sad tale indeed. And the crazy part is, he is wonderful cook. I think it just goes to show that even the best cooks can be deceived.

You might ask, “Well, what goes on grits?” That would be salt, pepper, butter and lots of all three. A good bowl of grits should slide down your throat like shoes on melting ice, raise your blood pressure by 10 points, and have a nice pepper burn. But they should not be sweet…ever…never. Now there are other acceptable variations such as cheese (oh, yes) bacon bits (I can taste it now!) and of course shrimp. If you have never had cheese grits or shrimp and grits, you need to repent right away and go try it. You won’t regret it. It is as fine as frog hair…and that is fine.

Now I have learned (actually, I am still learning) that someone can believe that you need to put salt on watermelon and sugar on grits and still be your friend. That becomes important if you happen to be married to them. You see, we need to learn that we don’t need to agree on everything. If we would practice that, the world would be a better place for sure. Now, not that I have ever had this problem, but sometimes people tend to get a little stubborn. We tend to think that there is only one way and that is our way. You know, kinda like when you think you don’t put salt on watermelon or, gulp, sugar on grits. Oops, I think I just shot myself in the foot. I knew if I wrote long enough it would happen.

The Book tell us, “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” In other words, it is ok if Judy likes salt on her watermelon, if she keeps the salt on her side of the plate. And my friend who likes sugar on his grits may need to go to rehab, but he can still be my friend. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills, especially in these days.

I’m probably must try this salt and sugar thing at least one more time. If nothing else, it will show that I am trying to understand. That’s what Jesus would want me to do and that’s what He does for me. When I come up with some strange combinations in life, well, He just smiles and tries to show me the right way. He keeps me from doing something too crazy…like eating chili and eggs. It’s good to know that if I do, He’s got that too. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Corned Beef Hash

Posted on March 2, 2023March 1, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent?” Luke 11:11

We were close friends from the start. Although I was too young to remember, I think it must be true. I think my very first word must have been…wait for it…”food”. Then I think my first sentence was, “I’m hungry.” I’m trying to say that food and I go way back and now I’m an expert on all things food. Well, wait, maybe not all things. You see I was raised on good, common food. Our menu included things like meatloaf and egg salad sandwiches (aka Easter egg salad sandwiches). There were some things that Momma cooked up, that to a kid, were kinda hard to swallow…no pun intended. One of those things was tripe (aka cow’s stomach). We called it the “eternal meat” because it was like chewing rubber. Take one big bite and two weeks later you swallowed. Definitely-not my favorite.

However, one of the best things that Mama cooked was something called corned beef hash. For that she would cook up some potatoes and then add some corned beef. I’m not sure why they call it corned beef but I don’t think it has anything to do with corn. At any rate…it was one of my favorites…well, sorta. You see, there was a trick to this corned beef thing and Momma knew it and…I knew it.

In the world of Momma’s corned beef there were really two kinds—and they were worlds apart. First there was fried corned beef hash and then there was boiled corned beef hash. The fried hash was just as it sounds. Momma would first fry up some home fried potatoes. These, friend, are what potatoes were made for…crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And if they happened to be fried in lard—well, that was even better. Then, she would add the corned beef and well, it was pretty much heaven. I always liked mine smothered in ketchup. But sometimes she would trick me. I would ask what was for supper and she would say, “corned beef hash” and for me that had to mean fried because that was the only way it was supposed to be. It’s kinda like grits—salt, pepper and butter are the only way grits can be grits.

But then, she had an ace up her sleeve. Sometimes, she made boiled corned beef hash. That involved boiling and (in my opinion) wasting a pot full of potatoes. She boiled them till they were almost like mush. Then she would add the corned beef to the pot and that was it and let me tell you all the ketchup in the world couldn’t redeem what water had done to what was meant to be fried. I’m still not sure why she fried most of the time but still boiled others. All I know I was always disappointed because when it comes to corned beef hash—fried always topped boiled.

With some things one way always tops another and that’s how it is with corned beef hash. And never is that truer than when it comes to God and religion. People today get confused. You see, God is God and religion is mankind’s frail attempt to reach God. Try as you like, the only way to know God is by knowing His Son Jesus. And that’s really cool because His way is a sure deal and man’s way is a sure failure. Chances are you know someone who was or is totally disappointed in religion and I suppose some folks would speak of their disappointment in God. But when we understand who He is and what He wants to do for us—that disappointment fades.

Like I said I was always disappointed when Momma boiled something that was clearly meant to be fried. And I’ve been around the church world long enough to know that religion always disappoints but God never does. I’m learning to trust Him and then believe Him even when that means things didn’t turn out the way I wanted or hoped. His way is the better way. If I don’t see it now…I will later.

One time Jesus was talking about prayer and said that a father would never give a snake to his son who asked for a piece of fish. Nope…not gonna happen. With God the fried things are always fried and even when we get boiled hash…well, we can trust that at the time, that is the best thing for us. I like that sacred assurance just like I know, I know, that no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne