"EAT IT AND HUSH"

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO MY MOTHER, Tommie Grace Fields, the "Best Mother in the Whole Wide World,” who is turning 91 years old today!

She has been called Amazing Grace, and to have packed so much life into 90 years is really amazing!  She started life as a twin of Tom Grady and was the 9th child born to parents who would eventually end up with 11 children.  (Grandma Marshall had 2 sets of twins after having 7 children!) Having listened to so many tales from Mother and her siblings, we know that they experienced the joys of a large family like most of us can never understand.  So it comes as no surprise that my mother had 7 children of her own. 

One aspect of having so many children that amazes me about my grandmother and then my mother was the ability to make “something from nothing” at meal time no matter how many were at the table.  I cannot imagine the stress of feeding so many, especially when there was not a stock of food to pull from.  They lived off the land – there was no running to Wal Mart or Kroger to get ingredients for a gourmet recipe!   My mom had great culinary skills, but most of the time didn’t have all the ingredients she would like to have so she would make do with what she had.  There was always a fabulous meal on the table and we would leave full and satisfied.  Oftentimes there would be a dish or casserole that we were not too sure about.  If you dared to ask what was in it... she would reply, "Eat it and hush."  Thus became the standard "Eat It and Hush" title for those mystery dishes.  And the best part was – it was something delicious and we would gobble it right up.  We didn’t have to know the ingredients; we just trusted that she would always give us what was tasty and nutritional. 

Reminds me of times when God will allow something to happen in my life and I’m saying, “God, what is THIS?”  And He is probably saying something like, “Eat it and hush.”   I have the assurance that He is always looking out for my best interest – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Also we can, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”  (Psalm 34:8).  When I have overcome and reflect on God’s goodness even through what I thought was “unsavory,” I can truly say it all worked for my good.  Not that the individual “ingredients” were pleasing at the time, but the finished product has made me stronger and I have more faith. 

I am so thankful today for all the life lessons my mother taught me and feel so blessed to be her child. I am also so thankful to be the child of a loving God who always works things for my good - and His eternal purpose!

 

HAPPPY 91st birthday Amazing Grace!!