He tasted yesterday. In fact, he took things a step further.
He licked the plate clean … literally. Let me explain.
Following our Sunday morning services yesterday, I took some time to linger with a friend on the couch outside the sanctuary. In the midst of our fairly emotional conversation, I noticed a group of people approaching our perimeter.
My people.
Husband, daughter, and son, all carrying the remnants from our earlier moments of Holy Communion around the altar. Plates, chalices, left-over bread and juice being dutifully carried by two of my people. One of my people, my son, was holding his plate sideways and to his mouth. He was licking the plate.
Mid-problem solving, I paused my conversation with my friend and stated…
“Would you look at that?! My son is licking the communion plate. I’m sure he’s broken at least a hundred rules as it pertains to the “taking” of communion.”
My husband looked over his shoulder and commented back to me…
“I’m sure there are worse things he could be doing.”
We all had a good laugh, except my son who was too busy trying to consume a final flavor of the sacred bread. Indeed, there are worse things he could be doing. This wasn’t one of them; in fact, I think this “doing” to be a very good thing, and here’s why.
My son’s licking of the plate indicated a prior understanding regarding the worth of the plate’s contents. Had sardines been the fare of our previous altar moments, I don’t think he’d have been so eager to lick the plate, much less carry it. No, what he carried in his hands was a tasty left-over, a good portion of a good remembrance.
The small piece of bread that passed through his mouth and onto his taste buds moments earlier was enough to warrant his desire for more. When he decided to “help himself” to the remains, he didn’t do so with any religious rituals in mind. He simply did so because of his hunger. How thankful I am for his earthly father who saw past ritual and allowed my son a feast.
How thankful I am for my heavenly Father who sees the same; who allows the same.
God created us with the feast in mind, friends. He intends for us to be hungry. To know and feel the deep ache that cries out for more. More bread. More filling. More Jesus. More truth. The closer we come to table of grace, the more we grow in our understanding of just how sacred the sacrament is.
I don’t imagine my son fully understands or appreciates the “worth” behind such moments. I’m not sure I do, but this I do know. He knows Jesus; he knows church, and he is beginning in his appreciation for some of the traditions of the church. It doesn’t matter to me if he absorbs it all now; what matters to me is his tasting along those lines.
And he would tell you all today, this day after a Sunday’s sacred remembrance, that church tasted really “good” yesterday.
The body that was broken. The blood that was shed. Our “more than enough” to keep us well-fed in the moment and in the posture for receiving more down the road. May we all be found “licking the plate” this week. Thus, I pray…
Thank you, Father, for your Word that feeds us. For the everlasting remembrance of the everlasting moment that still breathes new and viable for the hungering ache of a hurting world. You are our Sustainer, Lord, in times of feast and in seasons of famine. Rain down the bread of heaven each and every day so that we can be filled with the true and lasting sustenance of heaven’s bounty. Thank you for a child who isn’t afraid to explore that bounty. May our hearts be found as willing. Amen.
Yet again, the ways of a child preach, teach…feed.
Love and bounty to you this day, friend.
Melinda
I'm so thankful that my God doesn't just look at the outward appearances, but looks at my heart.
this is beautiful! It remind me of the story of the woman who says "even the dogs get the leftovers at the table" … may we all be so eager to receive even the "leftovers" of Christ. He is so Holy! We can never truly comprehend…
Have a clean plate licking week!
No wonder He insists that the children not be hindered. Theirs is such a humble, hungry heart, and such open ones at that.
I'm also reminded (again) that making too much of form often inhibits grace. God's "point" is often (always!) much simpler than mine.
Lovely, as always.
Hugs,
Kathleen
freshness of youth…revives us again!
thanks, friend 🙂
Amen, Sister! So true.
Sheryl
I love your response to your son doing this. I find myself so hungry lately but sometimes fill with things that don't satisfy like sweets. This is a good reminder.
Elaine, I so appreciate your comment on Heart Choices this morning. I'm sorry to learn of your friend's death. Even though both she and my mom were believers, we still miss them. I look forward to seeing my mom again one day. In the meantime, I'm grateful for friends like you who share from your heart.
My sweet Elaine, What a blessing as always! I believe you are God sent to me! Love, Faye
This says it all:
"The body that was broken. The blood that was shed. Our “more than enough” to keep us well-fed in the moment and in the posture for receiving more down the road. May we all be found “licking the plate” this week."
Thank you for sharing your son with us today and the reminder that his love-in-action as only a child could do, has given to my heart today.
Elaine, I saw your comment on Debbie about your dear friend we've been praying for. I'm so sorry for her loss while rejoicing that she is with JESUS and now HEALED AND WHOLE forever! Hallelujah! I ray for peace, comfort and strength for her precious family and loved ones and you. I know she is very special to you dear one.
I love you.
Always a feast here my friend. I come hungry, and always leave knowing I will welcome more on my next visit. I'm always "licking my plate" here…can't get enough! So thankful for a God who more than satisfies and invites us to His banqueting table.
I love how Billy was able to look past ritual and let Jayden enjoy. How quick most would have been to scold, making the sacred elements forbidden and igniting the association of negative feelings with them in your son's heart. Oh, how I pray I am not too legalistic in some of my preferences.
From reading your comments I'm sensing that your dear friend is now with her Lord. Praying for you Elaine as you grieve and as you minister to her family.
Hugs,
Joy
thanks so much Elaine! As for my design… Jill did it for me and I love it! She does blog makeovers for a donation to either compassion international, or adoption support. I love that she's not making money off them, but using her gift to bless children. You can find her at
http://mydesigningsite.blogspot.com/
tell her that I sent you if you decide to use her!:)
For your Son truly knows that once you experience Jesus…you will keep coming back for more to lick up every last drop! I LOVE this!
Again, you take a moment and turn it into a teachable moment:) Great job!
This makes me smile. May my heart be like a childs – not hindered or anchored by man-made canons or religious pomp – able to savor the very last drop of what is given to me in grace.
Enjoyed talking with you yesterday. It is fun to hear the real voice and all its inflections to words I have read for so long!
Shalom,
Denise
This makes me smile. May my heart be like a childs – not hindered or anchored by man-made canons or religious pomp – able to savor the very last drop of what is given to me in grace.
Enjoyed talking with you yesterday. It is fun to hear the real voice and all its inflections to words I have read for so long!
Shalom,
Denise
Oh, that we would all be so hungry for more of Him.
Great lesson here, friend.
"More bread. More filling. More Jesus. More truth." -exactly what I want.
I keep re-reading your last paragraph. His broken body. His shed blood. How our Savior is more than enough to satisfy us today and tomorrow.
I will pray that He will "keep me in the posture for receiving more."
More of Him.
Thank you for sharing this devotion. This quality of writing requires sacrifice. I appreciate the offering.
This post has really touched me, Elaine. Oh, that we will always come to our Father's table hungry, eager to lap up every drop!
I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. I'm praying for you, Elaine. Praying, too, for your friend's family. May you feel God's peace, as only He can give.
Love,
Beth
Love the picture this post paints and exhorts us to, Elaine — licking our plate of Jesus clean, consuming every bit of Him that we can. I wouldn't be surprised if I think of this every time the communion plate is offered now. What a wonderful lesson!
Oh that I would always hunger for the Lord with an appetite that refuses all other substitutes! Beautiful picture of exactly what God desires of us – that we would exuberantly take our fill of Him!
Thank you!
Wow. SOOO thought-provoking, and what an incredible lesson. That hunger for more. Wow.
I am so thankful that God simply tells us to come, to feast, to share, to partake. To nible, ponder and reflect.
**It isn't about joining a club, it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, and so with having said that, we are looking forward to partaking in the near future. Oh how glorious that moment will be…to partake with our Family In Christ at the communion table. It has been far to long Friend. Man's laws had kept us from that as we knew we weren't to become MEMBERS….this is long from me, but you so touched my heart with this post.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
Amen! "May we all be found the licking the plate" This was great Elaine!
Amen Father God… In Your precious & Holy name, amen.
Beautiful post, Elaine. I noticed it on my blog reader and was intrigued…I too posted about God/Jesus/food yesterday!
More Jesus is what I hunger for as well. In these shaky times, He is our fortress, our comfort, and our strength. He is my all in all!
God bless you, Elaine.
And Jesus said…
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 KJV
24 And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.
25 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft [AS OFTEN] as ye drink it, in remembrance of Me.
I love this post because I would have reacted like you did at first – with judgment of breaking a hundreds rules – but your husband helped you see it from the heart.
I see a greater lesson in all of this post – and that is that you are teaching your children the TRUTH and even if they do lick a plate of sacred bread clean – with communication – they also can see the other side of it. From God's perspective… You are teaching your son [and others like us] to keep things balanced. Each one of you saw a new perspective when communication happened [afterward].
Reminds me also of the scripture that tells us to teach our children when we walk, sit, go by the way [using every opportunity to share the TRUTH of God's Word.]
You did just that!
Communion is a sacred sacrament – a command that Jesus Himself gave – to carry on until He comes again!
Thanks for sharing the many lessons in this post – very thought provoking and instuctional!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
wifeforthejourney:
How many life lessons have our children given? Too often our (grown-up) issues are not irreverance in handling the holy, but in failing to realize how the holy is to be prized. I have missed out on a lot because I've been unwilling to "lick the plate" of what God gives. Isn't it just like the Lord to use our 8 year old to remind us of His goodness?
Thanks for posting about this!
love,
Billy
He is just precious! What a wonderful lesson that God was able to share with us through your darlin' child!
Beth's family continues to be in my prayers.
Hugs,
Susan
Sooooo funny!
We had a good communion laugh ourselves this Sunday! Our middle daughter…..thought it was time to "partake" and went ahead with her bread and wine…..only to find it wasn't time yet.
So…when the rest of us ate & drank…..she pretended to as well.
We couldn't stop giggling!
It was hilarious!
Poor kid!
It happens!
Love that. I feel like Jesus is asking me, "When was the last time you savored me… and really craved for more of me?"
I think it's in Psalm 37 where it says, "Taste, and see that the Lord is good." First comes the tasting, then the seeing-the revelation, the part we "take home" with us! : ) Love it! Also, we'll be praying for you as you sing at your friend's service. I recently heard that song at another service, and it's wonderful. Blessings sister in the Lord.
I really wish I could see moments like this the way you do…how awesome (and funny too!!!),
Always a blessing to be here.
His Maidservant~Pamela
What a great post. So glad to have found your blog. I'm so thankful for a God whom I always desire more of!
Children are so precious and have such innocent and so often humorous ways of teaching us lessons. Love this…thank you for sharing.
How dear! Yes, I think Jesus delights when we desire so much more of Him! Great post!
This just cracks me up. We've had more than one discussion on the ways we have taken communion. I think I like this perspective better than the ones I have taken…
You bless with your eyes of grace.
I look forward to hearing about your parting with your friend. I'm so happy that the Lord answered my prayer for you. I sense you have a great heart for others.
He is the Bread of Life, the only true satisfaction!
Out of the mouth of babes….. and in this case into the mouth of babes…. You got to know that God smiled…….. HE so loves the children……
That's it! Exactly what I want. To crave Jesus so much that I am never completely full. To always lick the plate clean.
I find my hunger and thirst for Him strong when distraction is low. After a tough day dealing with life issues, I sometimes just veg-out and find it hard to seek Him.
But, oh, how I want such compelling in my soul that I'm never without wanting Christ. I need Him. I know we all do.
Sweet story. God bless.
Andrea
I just wanted you to know I nominated you for an award on my blog. Thanks for your inspirational words.
~ Cory =)
What rules would your son have been breaking – the hundred or so that Jesus laid out at that ancient meal? 🙂 I appreciate your story and mean no malice in saying this, but I saw things a bit differently when I read this post. Communion, as we most often celebrate it, feels like it isn't enough. It's a shadow of what it was intended to be. The Passover meal was (and is) a celebration of deliverance from bondage – of literally God-given freedom. It was (and is) a full meal that our Savior gave incredible new meaning when last he shared it with his disciples. The bread had meaning because it was pierced like He would be pierced – broken like He would be broken. The cup – the full cup – was the Cup of Blessing, shared after the main course – after a real feast, eaten reclining, no less! And what has it become? A tiny wafer and a thimbleful of grape juice, eaten in straight-backed solemnity. Where's the celebration? Where's the feast? I can't blame your son for wanting more out of it, because I want more out of it myself! The tradition we've grown up with isn't necessarily bad – reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus is a good thing. Remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection is absolutely an essential thing! But don't you ever feel like we're missing out on something by reducing a celebratory feast to a ritualistic famine? Again, I mean no disrespect to you personally, or to anyone who holds this particular tradition sacrosanct. We are, after all, a part of the same family, disagreements and differences of opinion included. I, too, thank God for the child He has given to my care and for the lessons I am taught as a result (whether I want them or not!). Peace – and tell that son of yours to keep on licking!
How precious, Elaine! And, what wonderful accompanying Scriptures.
Your experience reminds me of time about 10 years ago; we were in church preparing to take communion, and Katy (then about 2 1/2) yelled out, "Oh, look, Mommy! Pastor Tim is making us a snack!" 😀