This will come as a shock to you, but there are some foods that people eat…that they won’t admit to eating.
For instance, Vienna sausages. I love these little mini salt bombs. People turn up their noses in disgust or make gagging sounds when I mention them. The first canned Vienna sausages were produced in America around 1900. They have been on shelves and in lunch boxes for more than a century…someone has been eating them.
Sardines, in mustard or hot sauce, with crackers make me happy. My wife prefers that I eat them outdoors. I’m happy to oblige. I can hear you now: “They smell…they have bones in them.”
Listen to my complete defense…they taste good…poor reputation and all.
In my family, pork n’ beans were a staple. I volunteered to open the cans so I could steal the little chunk of pork floating in the sauce. To me, it was better than finding the prize in the Cracker Jack box.
One of my favorite meals, a meal that I would be satisfied with at Thanksgiving, on death row, or mourning the loss of a loved one, is a plate of pork n’ beans as a side…and a main entrée of link sausage with mustard on white bread.
Still, highbrowed folks look down on the amazing little pork n’ beans.
Many people look down on McDonald’s.
“We…don’t ever eat there.”
“It’s not real food.”
That’s fine, Mrs. Astor. About seventy million people eat at McDonald’s every day. Somebody likes it.
And just a heads up, I’ll cut you over a McRib. I know it’s not rib meat…but it’s heaven on a bun.
Lots of food is looked down on. I’ll add to my list of likes: SPAM, frozen Salisbury steaks in TV dinners, canned chili, canned tamales, whop biscuits, and Jell-O of any kind.
Now, it’s okay for people to look down on these things. Some people aren’t as refined as I am. I can accept that.
But it’s funny how we can decide some things are “beneath” us. We are too good to wear certain brands, drive certain cars, and eat in certain places.
If we aren’t careful, we can also decide that certain people are beneath us.
James 2:4 reads, “Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
We are quick to make decisions about people and judge others before we have all the details. They may not look like we do…they may not dress as we do…they may not have the things we have.
But we usually don’t know their story.
All we can see is the outside…we can’t see their heart…only God can.
We are created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”
Did you catch that?
We are created in the image of God.
The person we shy away from, dismiss, or quietly decide we are better than…bears the image of God.
You like tofu…I like potted meat.
We are different. That’s okay. We don’t have to like the same things. Give me some grace for my uncouth ways.
But let’s remember to extend grace to those around us. They are created by God, and they have a story.
Because you are loved…extend love.
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