Pet Peeve: Rock hard, frozen pads of butter at a restaurant. I simply want to spread a thin layer of butter on my dinner roll, but instead I wind up with either of two things:
1. A large chunk of butter clumped onto one spot on my roll
OR…
2. Huge holes ripped into the roll from my attempt to spread said chunk of frozen butter
Typically, the roll is never hot enough to melt my spread. The butter – obstinate and stubborn – sits there, taunting me, refusing to share itself with the rest of the roll.
“Curse you, frozen butter!” I mutter under my breath. “Where is a tub of Country Crock when I need it?”
I recall a lunch appointment with a friend several years ago. She took the frozen pad of butter – the one neatly wrapped in its sub-zero, thermal gold foil – and then stuck it behind her bent knee, pinching it between her calf and hamstring!
What in the world was she doing??? You guessed it: she was warming the butter. She was prepping the butter so it would spread better.
What am I learning in this? There is something very good that happens to a cold, hard heart when it is paired with a bended knee.
As I submit to humble acts of service, my heart is more warmed up to the idea of reaching out to others, soaking into their lives, adding God flavors.
At the age of 32 I married my best friend, Beth. Thirteen years later we are blessed with two very energetic kids - Jack (12) and Calleigh (9). My wife is a ridiculously good cook who loves hosting dinners in our home, and then I go to the gym to work off the calories. I am an avid reader who appreciates contemplative, Spiritual conversations shared over a cup of coffee. Hobbies and interests include reading and writing, journaling, working out, and St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball. 
Gary, i am so glad you have decided to enter into the world of blogging. I pray that you will be encouraged by writing, something tells me you will have more than two people visit your blog. I am blessed with Jacqie and her mom, as followers of my blog.
Love you brother.
Eric
Gary, I really enjoy your writing. You always had a knack for using the ordinary to make a spiritual point. Tell Beth “hi” for me.
Gary – awesome! I’ve posted your blog on my facebook page and I hope my friends take advantage of the blessings of the insights God gives you! I LOVE the butter one especially and not only will I remember the bended knee of preparation for serving my King; but I plan to use it on those hard butter packs as well! Thank you my friend. Lauren
Wow, this lesson correlates with a center I taught at Celebration Station tonight, Hebrews 3:13 “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” It was hard for the younger kids to grasp the definition of hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. I think that I am going to incorporate your friends butter melting technique into next weeks follow up lesson along with what you learned. I hope that is OK. Thank you for sharing. I also appreciate the tip on how to melt that hard butter!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Finally!