Acts 2:44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising. [Living Bible Translation]
Summary
The expression “Elbow Grease” is an idiom for working hard at manual labor. It is also a humorous expression of the fact that many tasks require something more to get the job done---not something mechanical like a screw driver or a chemical product like oil, but something extra special, “elbow grease.” The expression was also a tradesman joke. A seasoned tradesman (e.g. a mechanic) would tell an apprentice to “go fetch some elbow grease,” and then watch as the unwitting apprentice went scurrying off to another mechanic to get it. That mechanic would in turn send the apprentice to another journeyman mechanic who then sent the poor guy on to another mechanic. Each of the journeymen laughed as they watched the apprentice run in circles looking for the elusive “elbow grease.”
Perhaps the idea that you need to put “more” than your hands to a task is what prompted the equally humorous expression: “she put her foot in it,” as a compliment to someone’s “fine” cooking. In other words, not only did the cook use his/her hands to whip up a wonderful meal, but that he or she put in a “whole lot more”---the whole foot!
Many of us grew up in homes where mom “put her foot” in the meal during the holidays. Perhaps those meals stand out because they seemed to be ones prepared with the most “loving care.” The preparation often took a few days or more. Days were spent making sure everything was just right, the table linen had to be inspected, the furniture polished, the floors clean, the guest towels laid out and the silverware polished. All the dishes from the china cabinet, where the dishes for special occasion were stored, had to be cleaned and a centerpiece had to be arranged. There were days set aside for baking pieces, making cookies and the various courses of the meal were carefully considered and prepared. Favorite recipes from a grandmother or aunt or cake recipe from a sister at church was brought out. Men who grilled or were responsible for other tasks “got busy” too. Perhaps it was all the love that went into the preparation and the joy of serving people you loved that made those meals so memorable, or why the food tasted so good, or why everyone seemed to linger longer than usual around the table talking, laughing and reminiscing. Part of the joy of the meal was having every gathered together, in love and gratitude to GOD, one more time.
Perhaps the “love” in those meals was just an extension of the love that carried over from the earlier church services described in Acts 2:44.
Although, we still smile when we remember the “fine” cooking at “our” house growing up, what really was the extra ingredient in all of those meals was not the hand, nor the foot, nor the grease, but the love.
Extra Meal Preparation
In Japan, some Japanese parents have turned packing their kids lunch boxes into an art form. Inside lunch boxes, known as Bento boxes, food is shaped into animals, pop culture icons and even portraits. One parent noted if her daughter’s boiled egg is shaped like a bunny holding a baby carrot, she’ll eat it. Another parent stated that while it is time consuming, it is worth it to show a little love at lunchtime. See, “For Japanese Parents Gorgeous Bento Box Lunches Are Packed with High Stakes,” by Chie Kobayaski and Elise Hu, July 24, 2016, www.npr.org.
In other Japanese schools, the food the children consume is grown locally and never frozen. The meals are hearty and healthy, heavy on rice, fish and vegetables. All the students eat the same meals. In the elementary and middle schools the children don white hats and coats and help serve their classmates. They eat in the classrooms with their teachers. There are no vending ma-chines. Often parents call up the school, at the request of their children, asking for a school lunch recipe. See, “On Japan’s school lunch menu: A healthy meal, made from scratch,” by Chico Harlan, January 26, 2013, www.washingtonpost.com.
According to government data from Japan, Japanese child obesity rates are among the world’s lowest and have declined for the past six years, a period when the country expanded its dietary education program. See, “On Japan’s school lunch menu: A healthy meal, made from scratch,” by Chico Harlan, January 26, 2013, www.washingtonpost.com.
In contract, United States obesity rates have tripled over the past three decades. Despite the fact that First Lady Michele Obama has been championing the cause of healthy foods in our nation’s schools. According to Chico Harlan: “[E]ven the healthiest choices [in United States schools] are generally provided by large agri-food companies, cooked off site, frozen and then reheated, and forced to compete in cafeterias with all things fried, salty and sweet.”
According to Harlan, Japan’s children will live on average to 83 years, longer than those in any other country, according to the world health organization. Yet, if asked, none of the other nations would ever admit to loving their children less than Japan loves her children!
WHERE’S THE LOVE
Imagine our nation’s schools or our nation’s churches and schools without vending machines. Imagine no fast food, donuts, candy or unhealthy foods being sold or distributed. Imagine children being taught from kindergarten (or before) about meal portion size or being excited about eating healthy meals or parents asking for school recipes.
Imagine artistically and lovingly creating your next healthy meal [e.g. creating a colorful salad, creating some blended fruit drink or vegetable drinks, or arranging some decorative grapes or cherries or baby carrots on a meal]--and lovingly creating the next healthy meal the next day and the next. Then, imagine yourself doing your job or interacting with everyone today “with love.”
Imagine, putting the same level of care, love and thought into the food served to the homeless neighbor down the street from your church or those living under the freeways of your city as you put into the meals you serve your family and loved ones. Imagine praising GOD and laughing with a group of homeless neighbors in your city. Imagine communion with them.
Today, just imagine the POWER of LOVE!*
Then, roll up your sleeves, say a prayer, put your hands, feet and heart into it---and don’t forget the elbow grease--- and BE BLESSED!
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In the 1980’s The Commodores released “JESUS is Love,” written by Lionel Richie. To listen to this song, paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KU8tnvk81s or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAjDKv6rdRQ in your web browser.
