When I woke up yesterday morning I felt something different.
I was tired but yet I had good feeling about the day. I stretched my arms out, looked at the time and it was 7:15 A.M.
Crap, I’m late for breakfast. I thought. I hopped quietly off the top bunk and started walking out to our breakfast area. When I stepped outside it was really foggy. You couldn’t even see down the walkway or the view off the mountain. All I could see was the picnic tables down by our kitchen area (they are usually by the kid’s pavilion).
Hmm, that’s weird, those are never down here. I continued to walk down and when I got there all the ladies were sitting at the table with excitement and huge smiles on their face and. The men on our squad were wearing aprons and had writing pads to take our order.
“Take a seat, we will be with you in a second. Would like a hot drink? Tea or coffee?” My squad mate Eric said to me. “Coffee, please. Cream and sugar. Thank you so much” I responded. I was still so confused.
When I sat down girls on my squad were telling me how the boys have been up since 5 A.M. cooking breakfast for us and that they were going to be serving us. I looked down at the table and saw there was a menu on the table. This is what it read:
Lord of the Ring’s Kitchen
Breakfast:
Frodo’s flapjacks (with strawberry and cream)
Drinks:
Flagon of tea
Pint of coffee
Options:
Syrup
Honey
The butter of the peanut
They took their time to make menus, get dressed up, and serve us as if we were at a restaurant. I was completely shocked by the hospitality and care the men had for us. Mind you, there are 46 women on our squad and only 9 men. They played old fashioned music and we all started dancing. It was a great start to our day.
The boys decided to do that all day with us. They wouldn’t let us ladies come in the kitchen at all to help or to get anything. If we wanted something they would get it.
For lunch they decided to make a homemade food truck through our common room window. They named it Peter, Boaz, & Jesus’ Food Truck. They gave us a PB&J sandwich, a piece of milk & white chocolate, and an uplifting hand written note. It showed how much each of them cared about us. How they looked at us as individuals.
Then, when dinner came all of ladies decided to dress up. We got all fancy, did our hair and make-up, and decided to look nice for dinner. The men dressed nice too. When we went out there was soft music playing, a light at the picnic tables, and roses at each one. The men were still serving us dinner. Fresh salad, grilled chickens, mashed potatoes, green beans, and then for dessert a chocolate mousse cake. The stars were shining bright; it was so amazing. The men did an amazing job.
After dinner we had our usual squad night that we usually have 3 times a week. The men said they had one more surprise for us. I couldn’t believe after catering to every need that day and serving us so much already there is more.
Kyle my squad mate started leading us into worship as we gathered around him. I was amazed at how God blessed me with such an amazing squad and family. I could see the men coming around the corner with buckets of water. They took them inside the common area.
One by one they call us into the building. My eyes were closed as I worshiped the Lord and Danny tapped me on the shoulder. I got up and he led me into the room and I saw the buckets of water on the floor. I sat in the chair in front of the bucket and Danny knelt down. He started washing my feet (just as Jesus did when He washed the disciples.) At that moment, I started to cry.
While Danny washed my feet, I kept hearing from Jesus, “This is how you should be treated and served. This is how you should be loved. I’ve been with you in the past and I’m here with you now. You are beautiful and I love you and you are worthy enough.”
All my life I struggled with insecurities. I’ve been in relationships where men have used me and have emotionally hurt me. I’ve had words spoken over me stuck my heart. Such as: I’m not worthy of love and I’m not worthy of being served.
My brothers in Christ showed me Jesus’ love for me in a different way – a love we should always have in our hearts. Jesus’ love. It is so selfless. Jesus made me the way I am. It’s time I love myself the way Jesus made me.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends. -1 Corinthians 13:4-8
