My husband, Mark, and I love to feed people. Maybe it is because we really love being in the kitchen together. We laugh, flirt, and talk about life and silly stuff. It is no wonder when there is a party to be had, it usually ends up at our home. Our home and kitchen is open to whomever needs it.

About a month ago, there was an amateur boxing match in the area. Since our son is taking boxing lessons, we decided to go. Some of the older boys from the gym were actually sparing this particular night. Mark left early to take the boys for their weigh in and such. The kids and I met him and all the others form the boxing gym for lunch at a restaurant. Since the weigh in was over, everyone could load up on calories. There were 11 of us in total about to break bread together.

To break bread is to affirm trust, confidence, and comfort with an individual or group of people. Breaking bread has a notation of friendliness and informality, derived from the original meaning regarding sharing the loaf. In biblical times it actually meant to break a loaf of bread. Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” I take this verse literally, believing that each time I eat I should remember Him. I should remember that He sacrificed His life not just for me; but for every single person. We are all His sheep.

Let me describe our group of eleven. We ranged in “color” of the whitest white to the darkest black. Heritages included: Haitian, Puerto Rican, African, Ukrainian, German, German/Irish/Norwegian, and others I didn’t know. We made quite the motley crue. We all sat down at three tables, side by side, Matthew (6-years old) prayed, and we broke bread together. We even passed food back and forth off of our plates to each other. We laughed a lot. Not one of us cared about the level of melanin that each other had. Not one us cared about which country the others were from. Not one of us cared about the past sins of each other. We didn’t even care what side of the proverbial tracks anyone lived on. We simply enjoyed the company of those we consider our family.

I sat back and smiled as I looked at our “family”. Young men that had become like sons to my husband and I. Young men who wanted us to be there to support them. A boxing coach who loves his students and would protect them at all cost. Then I started to notice something else. I noticed the looks. No mean looks, more just looks of confusion. I could almost hear their minds questioning how we all fit together. There was an older man that had pretty much stared at us the entire time we were there. As we were leaving we had to pass directly past him and his wife. I admit that we were a loud group, well not me, just the others. As we laughed our way out the door, he stared and then it happened; a huge smile changed his face from confusion to love.

Mark 2:13-17 tells us of Jesus eating with tax collectors. Mark 26:6 finds Him eating with a leper. In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds 5000 people. Were they all non-sinning Jews? Were they all the same color? Jesus talks to a Samaritan. He shows love and forgiveness to a prostitute.

1 Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” I think the scripture is pretty clear about Whose example I should be following. It sure isn’t the example of the few extremist in Charlottesville, NC not so long ago.

Yes, there are racist individuals living in this country. There are also deaf people, blind people, and homeless people. One racist doesn’t make a racist country anymore than one deaf person makes a deaf country. However, one loving, accepting person can change the world. And He did. What kind of person are you? I am so grateful that Mark and I are raising our children to be “colored blind”. I am grateful that people of all races, religions, sexual orientation, and all walks of life are welcomed in our home.

Are you feeding the fed or are you feeding the hungry. Go break bread with someone new, someone different, someone you see sitting alone at a restaurant. And remember, if you see smoke at our house, that means Mark has something on the grill or smoker and some great food is being prepared. Come join us and ALL of our family. Don’t worry, you won’t be the only sinner here.