LEFTOVERS

left·o·ver

ˈleftˌōvər/

1. something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used or consumed.

   synonyms:

   residue, survivor, vestige, legacy, throwback

One of my FAV-O-RITE weekends of each year is the 3 days following THANKSGIVING!

Besides the obvious buffet of football games, it's the food LEFTOVERS that I really enjoy!

The CHEERLEADER and I were in a conversation about LEFTOVERS earlier.  Some don't like the idea of saving the food and going back in later that day or the next.  Others LOVE it!

The LEFTOVER meal I like the best....chili!  The CHEERLEADER makes THE BEST chili and it only gets better as the flavors have a chance to mingle for a couple of days!

Some LEFTOVERS in the fridge get forgotten and have to be tossed out.

What about people that we treat as LEFTOVERS?  I'm talking about the LEFTOVERS we forget about and not the ones we get all excited about.

You know what I'm talking about.  We have our "fill" and then put them away for another day.

Do you remember the Sunday School story of the Wayward or Prodigal Son?  Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of a son who wanted out and to go his own way.  Since the usual "receiving" of an inheritance doesn't happen unless someone dies, in essence, he tells his father, "I wish you were dead.....give me what's coming to me now." (Luke 15:12)

I won't go through the whole story (you can read it for yourself....VERY POWERFUL), but what happens is the son takes his inheritance and BLOWS it or, as the Bible says, "...wasted all his money in wild living." (New Living Translation).

LEFTOVERS.

After looking for and finding work, he has a moment of clarity as he's feeding pigs realizing that the pigs are eating better than he does.  So he sets off for home.  I'm sure the whole way home he's rehearsing his speech to his father....what he will say....what dad will say...and what his comeback will be.

Here's where it gets REALLY GOOD.  The dad has been waiting this whole time for his son to come home.  When he sees him from far away, he sprints out to meet him, kiss him and rejoice that he is back home.

LEFTOVERS.

That is a GREAT picture of us with a loving God....BUT...it is also a GREAT picture and illustration of how we should treat others!

So, as we continue our BEST YEAR YET journey, let's not forget that EVERYONE is welcome to the "party"....whether they are LEFTOVERS or not!


FINAL THOUGHT:
Check out the group (click the name) THE PEOPLE of THE SECOND CHANCE, and what they do and offer those who others might look to "throw out."  GREAT stuff!