My Favorite Meal is the One I’m Having Now

How Being Present Promotes a Life of Celebration

My middle child loves to eat. He’s the least picky of my three kids, and he’s almost always eating. He is a healthy weight and his doctor said that as long as he’s making relatively healthy choices, we don’t have to limit his food. He’s a kid, so he still occasionally complains, and always wants dessert. But mostly he eats what I put in front of him.

We had dinner with my parents on the 4th of July, and as he inhaled his food (as he nearly always does) my mom asked him what his favorite meal was and he said

“The one I’m having right now.”

He didn’t mean the hot dog, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob and fresh green beans, though he does like those. He meant that he loves most whatever he is currently eating.  This middle child is also my most challenging child and yet he has moments where he can be incredibly profound, and this was one of those.

I know that much of my own life is spent working towards the next thing. I have goals to accomplish and challenges to conquer. I’ve always struggled to engage in the present moment, especially with my children. For a long time I would get depressed on Sunday mornings, which would just deepen for the remainder of the day because Monday was looming. Mind you, that obsessing with what I missing was actually stealing the joy of almost half my weekend! I used to do the same thing with date nights, vacations and pretty much any other fun activity. (This may be one of the reasons why studies show that vacations actually have the largest emotional benefit during the planning process before we’ve actually taken them.)

I taught a class at church last spring about the Discipline of Celebration. One of things we talked about is how gratitude and contentment are crucial to the ability to celebrate. Joy cannot be based solely on our circumstances or we will rarely experience it. But we can cultivate celebration in our lives and gratitude is one of the ways to do that.
Buddism and other more new age philosophies, including the secular culture at large think they own the mindfulness movement. The fact is, being present and aware is something God designed.

In his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, John Ortberg says

“The psalmist doesn’t say, ‘yesterday was God’s day—I was so happy then.’ Nor does he say; ‘Tomorrow will be a great day—I just have to endure until then.'”

It is important to remember the good things God has done in the past, and to look forward to the things we anticipate he will do in the future, but he is also to be celebrated in the present, regardless of our circumstances.

This is the day, where I am right now, is the day of the Lord and I can commit to find a way to rejoice in it.

I’ve gotten in the habit of spending a couple extra seconds cuddling my youngest at bedtime, because he is a very snuggly child but also because he’s getting so big. He still fits into my arms and I know he won’t always. So I slide into bed next to him, and I tell him I love him. He kisses my cheek and says “Mommy, I love you, a lot.” In those moments he is my favorite. Not that I like him better than my other children (though if I’m honest sometimes I do, but they each probably get their turn at that). But right then, that moment is my favorite.

Contentment and satisfaction have gotten a bad name in our culture, even in our churches. It’s all about goals, growth and the five year plan. We sing worship songs about wanting more of Jesus and not being satisfied, which is an admirable goal. But what if we allowed ourselves to relish the experience of God we having at this moment? When I know the voice of God is speaking to me. When I experience his grace, his love poured out through those around me. When I clearly see his hand at work in the circumstances that surround my life.

Just as I scoop up my son for a cuddle, I can lean into those moments, and experience contentment, like that comfortable fullness after a good meal because my spirit is satisfied. Of course I want to grow more in faith, and continually become more like Jesus. That doesn’t mean I can’t lean in and let where I am right now be enough.

When I can appreciate each bite of food and be grateful for it, relishing in the tastes and textures, I celebrate. When I give a conversation my full attention without rushing or trying to multitask, I celebrate. When I immerse myself in literature, art or nature and set aside thoughts of anything else I should be or could be doing, I celebrate. This life is just a dim reflection of what eternity will be like, so perhaps those moment to moment celebrations are just a preview of what is to come.

Let this day, this moment be your favorite. Choose to celebrate.