Breaking Bread

I sat at the back of the classroom and listened to the students read a familiar Bible passage. As the teacher’s assistant, I had collected homework and proceeded to take attendance. I stopped when the teacher wrote two words on the board—breaking bread.

Breaking bread is a term I associate with Bible stories or good food. As a youth, I had grown too familiar with the stories for them to have much of an impact. The food is what I remember.

Bread-Breaking dinners at church meant an abundance of home-made dishes. Gluttony was expected as people over-loaded their plates. Sometimes a person carried two plates; one for the main meal and the other for desserts.

By the end of the dinner, people pushed their chairs away from the table, rested their hands on their full stomachs, and settled into conversations. The dinners eventually became known as potlucks or fellowship meals, but the purpose was still the same—full bellies and good conversations.

Recently, I broke bread at a writer’s conference and the purpose wasn’t to fill my stomach. To give details wouldn’t be fair to the writer who shared this activity, but I can share my experience. I was full of encouragement, hope, and possibilities. I was reminded that words can feed an appetite that is often ignored, and give strength to a tired soul.

The teacher’s voice drew my attention back to the board. I smiled. The passage the students read was more that a story about bread and fish. The words were meant to give us encouragement, hope, and possibilities.

God’s Word is full of encouragement, hope, and possibilities.

When I feast on God's Word, He fills me. While I chew, I can’t negate what He says is true about me.

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

I swallow and am thankful.