Jack, my husband, told this story about going to lunch with a friend from work. He and his friend went to an Italian restaurant where his friend ordered spaghetti, and at the end of the meal he said, “This was good spaghetti, and on top of that, it’s the first time I’lve had spaghetti and didn’t get any on my shirt! Jack just smiled, and as they rose to leave, his friend’s tie slipped a little bit sideways, and there it was; under the tie was a bright red spot of spaghetti sauce on his white shirt..

Jack smiled when he told me of this incident, but that was nothing compared to the reaction of our grandkids ( preschool and third grade) when Jack retold this incident at the dinner table. There were shrieks of laughter and begging him to retell the story over and over. I was laughing, too, but mostly at the children. It was a fun dinner, and we each checked our own clothes to see if we had spilled anything at the end.

It didn’t end with that dinner. Whenever we were together, the children asked for “the man with spaghetti on his shirt.” from Jack.

“They shall be mine,” says the Lord of Hosts. “in the day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his son that serves him.”(Malachi 3:17) In this passage in Malachi, the Lord is referring to the people who have accepted His lordship of them, and displayed it in their tithes and obedience to His covenant with them. The people had returned from exile and were struggling to reestablish the Temple worship, and were failing to understand God’s requirements. Nevertheless, God calls the faithful ones “jewels” and makes a promise to them. God’s love for His faithful ones is evident in this passage, and the joy he takes in them is apparent. It’s almost like the joy that Jack and I experienced by surprise at the dinner table when our “jewels” were so carried away by the story. Their temporary delight was infectious, almost like a picture of the eternal delight that God receives when we respond to Him with unrestrained joy in His message to us. This message in Psalm 103 came to my mind when I thought of the children’s glee: Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is in me, bless His holy name! Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s .

May we all experience such a love and such a praise in 2025!

Love in Him,

Prue Happy New Year!!