By: Kacie Starr Long
"There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:9
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children start learning to share around the age of three or four.
Now, while I'm all for sharing information and knowledge, there's one thing I'm not willing to share—my food.
I recently had a front-row seat to a family feast during a vacation. Some family members passed around plates like a well-choreographed dance. As they happily exchanged bites, I couldn't help but be the food guardian, protective and possessive of my dinner.
It's not that I don't love my family; I do. It's not that I don't care for them; I do.
I just really, really hoped no one would dare ask for a taste of my meticulously chosen restaurant dish.
Let's call it a culinary safeguard.
Fast forward to a more recent dining dilemma with my husband, Alfred.
I've transitioned to a pescatarian diet which consists of fish and seafood only.
Alfred, my loving husband, is a carnivore connoisseur. He enjoys all meats, and we both love crispy air-fried salmon.
But here is the catch guys —salmon can be pricey.
Budgeting for this change, I pondered a conversation with Alfred about my protein preferences. I was going to share how there would be times when I would need to eat salmon and fish but he would need to eat the other meats that I cooked. I was going to tell him that we couldn't afford for both of us to eat fish every night.
However, God told me to trust Him instead. His message was to let Alfred partake in the salmon with me, and somehow, God would ensure we had enough.
Now, trusting God with grocery budgets might or (might not for some) sound like a leap of faith.
But, surprise, surprise, God has been faithful.
A timely gift card, unexpected provisions—our dinner table has been a testament to God breaking the chains of scarcity.
God's message was clear: Alfred can have salmon too. It's a revelation that challenges the scarcity mindset. No need to hoard, ration, or micromanage. God's got this.
Maybe you're not battling over salmon, but are you clinging to something out of fear? Time, resources, wisdom—worried that sharing will leave you with nothing? Consider the story in John 6, where a little boy's offering of two fish and five loaves became a miraculous feast for thousands.
Alfred and I are witnessing our own miracle at the dinner table. Despite knowing our budget constraints, God provides abundantly. It's a reminder that sharing opens the door to God's divine multiplication. So, is there something you're hoarding, fearing you won't have enough?
Remember, sharing is the key to experiencing your own divine dining miracle.
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Hi, my name is Kacie Starr Long. I am an author, and speaker and I love to use my voice to point people to Jesus. When I'm not writing, I'm either working out at Orange Theory Fitness or sewing. I'm in recovery from compulsive overeating and I have a sewing ministry, called the Sew Hope Community Sewing Room. I am the proud wife of Alfred T. Long, Sr and together we lead a non-profit that serves prisoners and their families. Connect with me at www.InspiredOverflow.com and via my YouTube page for Christian teachings and encouragement.