Pork and Beans

In the early years of marriage and ministry, the Lord supported us through a handful of regular supporters and the contributions of those we counseled. Some call that a ‘faith’ ministry, implying that ‘salaried’ folks don’t live by faith. Moreover, there is a general perception that ‘faith’ ministers are deprived. 
 

Thus it was one Thanksgiving that one of our invited dinner guests was asked by some friends if she knew anyone who needed a food basket for Thanksgiving.  She spontaneously said “Yes,” and arrived at our home on Thanksgiving Day with food basket in hand. That day I had to swallow my pride before I could swallow any turkey.

Even though we had already prepared a great turkey meal, I looked to see what delicacies our donors had afforded us, when, to my surprise, instead of a turkey and trimmings, was a basket full of canned foods, including a gallon can of pork and beans. There are two things worth noting: 1) as a small family we could never have eaten a gallon of pork and beans; and 2) I don’t like canned pork and beans.
 
That said, I think there are many times in life when we think we’re getting a roasted turkey, but we get pork and beans. I tried so hard to be grateful that day, reminding myself “every good gift is from above” (James 1:17), even pork and beans, metaphorically speaking, of course!