The crowds are growing and growing. So desperate. So hopeful. So much longing for a word from Christ’s lips, or a touch of his hands, even a glimpse of God’s child come to set them free. So focused on him. That they forgot themselves. In such a rush to reach him, that they forgot to make plans for supper. 

And so now, the sun is growing lower in the sky, and all across the hillside, stomachs are rumbling. But Jesus has an idea. He takes what little they have, a few loaves of bread and some fish, gives God thanks, has the people sit and passes them around. 

Then, scripture says, all ate their fill. But not just that. There were leftovers.

By now our Thanksgiving tables have been cleared away. Most of the guests are making their way home. All the ordinarily rhythms to life quickly jostle their way back to the front of our minds. But if you are like me, you are thinking about turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, the half of a blueberry pie on the counter, and my new favorite salsa made with leftover cranberry sauce. 

Let these leftovers remind us that God’s grace and love is not just for special occasions, it nourishes us every day. And God’s love is so abundant that we can receive all that we need, and there will always be plenty leftover.