More than enough

Jesus, help me to appreciate having food -- even leftovers! Amen.

Jesus had taught a crowd of 5,000 people all day, and it was late. "Tell them to go home and eat," the Apostles told Jesus. "Feed them yourselves," He answered. But all they had were five loaves of bread and two fish! Jesus took the food, blessed it and gave it to the crowd -- and suddenly, there was enough for everyone! They all ate their fill, and there were even 12 baskets of leftovers.

Leftovers gross some kids out. They don't want to eat cold pizza or even open Tupperware bowls of last night's dinner! To those kids, food is never as good as when it's perfectly fresh.

Most people, though, know the value of good leftovers: If you liked last night's dinner, you get to have it again! If there's enough pizza when everyone's done eating, you can take a slice for lunch at school the next day! Leftovers can be awesome that way.

Jesus would be way over on the pro-leftover side. In this week's Gospel (Luke 9:11-17), He not only feeds thousands of hungry people; He makes sure there are plenty of leftovers!

The people Jesus taught that day would have been really hungry. They were mostly poor and didn't eat well anyway, but after following Jesus to the place He taught and then standing around all day, they were starving.

Some kids don't like leftovers because they know there are always new things to eat. Why have the same thing twice when there's so much food? You can throw out the leftovers and eat something fresh.

If you like leftovers, you'll understand why Jesus' followers were excited to have them. It showed Jesus wasn't just worried about one meal; He wanted to make sure they had more than enough. It's why He taught for a whole day, and also why He made extra bread and fish.

Leftovers can be great -- and with Jesus, you'll always get more than enough!