Its a stick to your ribs type of meal.

So if you needed to have a meal that was going to stay with you, sustain you for awhile - what would your choice be?  I always fall back on one that was a favorite of mine growing up on the farm.  It would be fried chicken, potatoes, gravy, corn, and dill pickles.  All of this was grown on the farm and I will admit, taken for granted all too often.  But it is still probably my favorite down to earth, stick to your ribs kind of meal.

When KFC came out with their mashed potato bowl a few years ago, it was a hit with me because it came close to having all these favorites for me in a quick dish I could get on my lunch hour.

This past Sunday at our church, Hillspring, I left with the feeling of just enjoying one of those stick to your ribs type of meals.  We are celebrating Advent like other Christian churches around the world.  This years focus is on the life of Mary.  Her life is being presented in a reverse time line.  (In case you don't connect - this way we will visit her life at the birth of Jesus on Christmas :) )  This past Sunday when the message was concluded, Pastor Bryan left the platform.  Music began and a woman portraying Mary entered to sit on the platform.  This was followed by two men dressed as Roman soldiers carrying a man portraying the body of Jesus after He had been crucified.  They laid Him next to her and she held His head on her lap.  "Mary Did You Know" was being sung as we went forward to partake in communion.  

Today is Wednesday and this meal is still sticking to my ribs.  You know its a great meal when it continues to feed you.  In Luke 2:19 we read, 

 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. (NLT)  I am sure Mary continued to ponder these things for many years, continuing through the death of her son.  The image that was portrayed while we were served communion is also one to ponder, one to think on for many years - for our lifetime.  We should reflect on this always, to remember what Christ did for us, what He continues to do for us through the gift of the Spirit and what will be done for us the day we are welcomed to our eternal home.