The church was having a fellowship dinner and we were all supposed to bring finger foods.
I really didn’t want to think about preparing food on my Sabbath (I’m practicing Sabbath every week now. More about that in posts to come). So, I asked the Preacher what ideas he had.
Preacher offers:
“Why don’t you let me pick up some pimento cheese and make some sandwiches. Then you won’t have to do anything.”
I thought:
That doesn’t sound very glamorous. Who eats pimento cheese? Surely we can do better than that. We should cook something; that way it would look like we had put some effort into it. I didn’t want to be shown up at a fellowship meal.
“Kinsey, ” the Spirit nudges me, “the Preacher is offering to make sandwiches. Historically, you’ve dismissed his ideas and offered your “better” ones. Historically, that has proved very harmful to your marriage. Don’t blow this.”
I said:
“Sure, that would be great. Thank you babe. Oh, and while you are at the store, would you pick up some chips and soda to take as well?”
That settled, I went and took a Sabbath nap. zzzzzzzzzz
When I awoke, there on the counter was a plate full of pimento cheese sandwiches, quartered, piled high, and covered with Saran wrap. A can of Pringles, Chips Ahoy! cookies, and soda completed the ensemble. What a guy. Eoy!
At church, I’ll admit, I was a bit embarrassed about our meager offering. It didn’t look so noble next to the chicken tenders and homemade biscuits. But something bigger was at stake here. Something that superseded my need to keep up appearances. I needed to let my husband serve me and to appreciate what he offered.
The Bible calls this submission. Gulp. I’ve never liked that word much. It’s one of the most abused and misunderstood words in the bible. I’m not here to do exegesis about it. I just want to show you how it plays out in real life.
Submission has to do with preferring another person over yourself. It’s not about being “less than” it’s about thinking “more of.” It’s to put your needs, wants, desires, ideas, and will aside in order to elevate someone else. It’s a posture of humility, love, generosity, kindness and graciousness. It’s the posture of Jesus.
And guess what, it’s not just for women. It’s for everyone. Men are to submit to women, women to men, parents to children, children to parents, leaders to laymen, laymen to leaders, and on and on. It’s true!
Paul admonishes all of us in Philippians 2, “Have the same attitude that Christ had. He made himself nothing, and took on himself the posture of a servant.” He laid His authority and deity aside. For you. For me. And like He said, “the servant is no greater than the master.” In other words, “I did it . . . you do it.”
We can argue about men and women’s roles, and what submission means, but there is a better way to solve the dispute – look at Jesus. Copy Him. End of story.
I’m sooooooooooooo glad God stopped my big fat mouth from offering a better suggestion to the Preacher. Truth is there was no better suggestion.
My submission, my preference for my husband was the better thing. It promoted him and demoted me. I can’t tell you how much that needs to become a pattern in our marriage.
The pimento cheese sandwiches were a hit. Who knew? Only brought a few home. Go God.
Can’t say the same thing for the Chips Ahoy! cookies. But what chance did they really have next to Mrs. Ruby’s chocolate cake, and the cream cheese stuffed strawberries dipped in chocolate?
What a great example of submission, Kinsey! And I’ve got to say, the Pimento Cheese pulled me in!
Ahhh… great example that as Paul Miller says, “Death is at the Center of Love.”
Wow! I love your explanation of submission. Probably the most simply and clearly stated that I’ve ever heard (and I went to seminary!). I needed this reminder, thank you for your post. (Ps: I’m friends with Amy!)
Thanks for stopping by! Any friend of Amy is a friend of mine. Nothing like the school of life to learn some practical theology. Come back for a visit1