Last evening we celebrated, with great hilarity, the birthday of our six-year-old granddaughter. It was a fun-filled time with great food, a gift from grandma and grandpa and an occasion to display creativity.
First there was the menu. When asked what she wanted for her special supper she replied: mac and cheese. Nothing more, nothing less. I consulted a couple of trusted on-line cooking sites and came up with a cheesy, gooey baked version of the old favourite. We added vegetables of various sorts, just for health's sake. And of course, a scrumptious dessert.
It was my talented daughter-in-law who brought steaming hot plum kuchen topped with ice cream to the table … minus birthday candles. Ah, candles. In all my planning I'd forgotten the vital role of candles to a six year old. We searched kitchen drawers and cupboards and came up with three but three is definitely better than none.
All problems solved, we were ready to proceed, that is, until we watched the candles slowly dissolving into liquid wax after being strategically placed in the kuchen. They were removed, along with any waxy residue and the next situation presented itself: where to put them so they could be safely blown out? Ah, my heavy homemade whole wheat bread! I grabbed a slice, thawed it in the microwave and carefully arranged the now much smaller candles in the centre. It worked perfectly.
If only all life's problems were solved so easily, then "now what" wouldn't seem so ominous: What now when an industry tanks and jobs disappear? What now when illness or death interrupts? What now when a thousand other scenarios arise?
I've had my share of "now whats?" but I've also learned that Christ is both our burden-bearer and the all-sufficient One.
"Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you."
