Dinner for Two

Written by Karen Strand

This article is courtesy of Mature Living magazine.

That Saturday evening when I decided to prepare my husband's favorite supper, I had no idea things would not go as planned. I certainly did not expect a spiritual eye-opener.     

Paul had been working in the yard all day, even transplanting a pink dogwood to a sunnier place near our front porch. In appreciation, I fixed his favorite meal: salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and green beans. I set the table with a vase of marigolds, new flowered place mats, our good white china, and blue candles. But as I turned toward the oven, my vision became funny, and I recognized the early symptoms of a migraine headache. I would have to take my medication and lie down immediately. It looked as though my lovely table for two would be seating only one tonight.   

I squeezed my eyes shut against the light and complained, "Lord, why now? I cannot for the life of me understand why." Along with my medication, a good dose of self-pity took hold, sending a tear down my cheek. I was perplexed and disappointed.

When I heard Paul wipe his feet on the mat at the back door, I adopted my best suffering saint voice and urged him to go ahead and eat dinner without me. After he had offered the appropriate amount of sympathy, he took the pot holders off the hook and had just begun serving himself when the doorbell rang.   

My stepdaughter Shelly stood on the porch clutching two huge bags of laundry. "My washer is broken," she wearily explained. "May I use yours?"

My heart went out to her. At 20 years old, Shelly was a young mom who spent her days getting her little ones to day care, working, attending dental assistant training, and doing homework at night. Only that morning Paul had lamented that we never got to see her anymore. Now, despite the circumstances, he was delighted.   

"Come right in!" he urged. She dragged her bundle to the laundry room and began stuffing the washer.  

 "Shelly," I called, "any chance you haven't eaten supper?"  

 "Since I have so much to do, I was just going to skip it," she sighed.  

 "Um, as I recall, you really like salisbury steak."  

 Her eyes smiled. "Yes, I do! Is there any extra?"   

"Plenty," I assured her.   

So Shelly took my place at the lovely table set for two, and a dad and a daughter who had much to catch up on filled the room with animated chatter.   

Resting on the couch, I forgot about myself and marveled over how this had all worked out. I certainly didn't enjoy having my head pound, but I no longer felt the need to complain to God about it. In fact, a curious contentment filled me. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us: "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps" (Holman Christian Standard Bible).    

Now when my best laid plans appear not to be working out, I recall that evening and remember that although my ideas are great, God's are better.

Karen Strand is a freelance writer and part-time receptionist at a fire station in Lacey, Wash.