Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love visiting my sister’s house for the holiday because I know she’s going to have all my favorites, with plenty left over for seconds….thirds if I’m feeling particularly greedy that day. No one makes mac ’n cheese, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, potato salad, and greens like my sister.
Even as I’m making my plate, she’s pulling more food out of the oven and saying, “Aretha, here, try these sweet potatoes.” And when I’m making my plate, I never have to worry about how much food I’m putting on my plate because there is always more than enough. My sister knows I love her greens and if she notices that I didn’t put as much as normal on my plate she’ll say something like, “Are you sure that’s enough? You don’t want more? Here, take more.”
Now, there’s one dish my sister makes that causes quite a stir within the family: shrimp salad. When it comes to her shrimp salad, you better get it early, you better get it fast, and you better get as much as you want because there won’t be any leftovers for seconds or thirds.
I sit down with my plate overflowing with food and enjoy each and every bite. When I’ve finished eating, I sit back on the couch, stuffed, satisfied, content, and depending on how much I ate, a little uncomfortable because my stomach is too full. If my sister asks me if I want more food, I usually reply with something like, “Nope. I can’t eat another bite,” although I’m already trying to decide upon which flavor pie I want for dessert.
As I contemplated what to write about on this month’s theme, Lamentations 3:24 came to mind, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” The word “portion” here means, in part, share, part, or territory. I always go to this verse when I’m thinking about or studying contentment. Why? Because if the Lord is my portion, which He is, then I have more than I need and I have more than enough. With the Lord, my soul is like my belly on Thanksgiving: FULL.
Over the years I’ve asked the Lord for many things: a husband, jobs, cars, houses, money, healthy children, and friendships. With each of these things, I thought I’d find a sense of peace and joy, and I did…for awhile. Yet, my soul was crying out for something more, something deeper, than the material possessions could provide. When I began to pray, “Lord, give me more of you. Make me more like you,” I received more than I asked for. The Lord pours into me each and every day. He gives me what I need, some of what I want, and He never stops surprising me with unexpected gifts (blessings).
My relationship with the Lord is the most important relationship of my life. I love Him and I know He loves me. He was with me at every chemo infusion appointment when I was being treated for an aggressive form of breast cancer. He was with me when my son passed away. He was with me when my mother passed away. He was with me when my first husband told me he didn’t love me the way a husband should love his wife. The Lord mended my broken heart. The Lord healed me of cancer. The Lord has done more than I could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). And He desires to do the same for you.
The bible teaches that God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). That means what He has done for me, He will do for you as well. And so I want to encourage you, dear reader. Perhaps you’ve been feeling depleted, empty, longing for something more. Perhaps you’re not experiencing the fulfillment your soul desires and craves. Let me serve you the way my sister serves me on Thanksgiving. But instead of serving you with natural food, I want to serve you with the Portion that is Lamentations 3:24. Let me remind you that this Portion never runs out, never gets old, never gets stale. This Portion is everything I need and everything you need at the same time. The Portion that is the Lord brings satisfaction and contentment in ways that worldly possessions cannot. Press into that Portion, feast on it, look forward to it, get greedy with it.
The Lord is our Portion. He feeds us til we want no more…..
Bonnie Sue Writes 
There is so much truth in this post. Jesus is the only one who can quench our thirst and give us true fulfillment.
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