No Thanks, I’d Rather Eat Dog Food.
In an unusual demonstration of energy, one Friday morning I attempted to have muffins out of the oven before my early morning seminary students left. It was a new maple pumpkin muffin recipe from my sister-in-law and sounded really good. The school kids gave rave reviews.
About thirty minutes after Husband and all the school kids were out the door, the two remaining preschoolers decided to start their day. Confidently, I placed the morning’s breakfast offering in front of them and continued to clean the kitchen.
Much to my amazement, one child ate all the maple glaze off the top of the muffin, drank the milk, and asked to get down. The other child took one bite, pounded the muffin into crumbs, and took great pleasure in dropping one handful of pulverized pastry onto the ground every ten seconds. How could they refuse this delicacy?
But refuse they did, and no amount of talking and coaxing progressed them past this point.
Oh well. I sent them on their way and continued my morning chores.
An hour later, the house was strangely quiet. This is never a good sign.
Upon investigation, I found those two darlings sitting at the top of our stairs. Each had a cup of something delicious that they were contentedly eating with gusto and much drooling.
Dog food! They were gorging themselves on dog food!
Forget the tender and nourishing muffins, Mother. I’d rather eat dog food with a grin on my face.
I was so insulted.
The experience replayed in my mind for days, partially to laugh and partially to ponder.
In an October 2015 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints address, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Heavenly Father has prepared for His children a spiritual feast, offering every kind of exquisite food imaginable…”
As His child, I wondered in how many areas I am figuratively eating dog food with great contentment and gusto not understanding what spiritually nourishing feast I am refusing to accept and partake.
Our Heavenly Father is perfectly patient though.
Just as I know my preschoolers will mature and gain experience over time, God does not give us just one opportunity to spiritually feast. I will keep presenting maple pumpkin muffins without shoving them down anyone’s throat. Father in Heaven will keep presenting opportunities to spiritually feast IF WE SO CHOOSE.
And what if we do not feel worthy of such opportunities or cannot see how to get to the feast? Elder Uchtdorf continued, “When we choose to believe, exercise faith unto repentance, and follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, we open our spiritual eyes to splendors we can scarcely imagine. Thus our belief and faith will grow stronger, and we will see even more.”
And maybe, just maybe, the ever-present, distracting dog foods of mortality will look less and less appealing along the way.
