The Parable of the Good Dishes

Parables are awesome... ok maybe I should explain that... I find that often parables have 2 meaning, or two lessons to share. They are told in story mode so that it is easier to remember. And parables in a way are 'truer' than some other forms of story telling, but that is because a parable doesnt even try to claim historical authenticity, for it is meant to be timeless, a timeless lesson, one that is good for all the ages and all the generations, even to come. My personal favorite of Jesus' parables in of the Two Sons (also known as the prodigal son), it's double meaning comes from learning both the lessons of the younger child and the lessons of the older child. Jesus is not the only Teacher to use parables; the prophet Nathan told King David a parable; and we also have modern parables too. 

So today I share with you a parable I wrote. It is inspired by the true story of my Great-Grand-Mother (who I never met myself). My grand-father has taught me a lot about the care and love that he received from his mother, and now I am happy to share her life lesson in "The Parable of the Good Dishes"... ok if you have a better title idea... let me know :) I hope you enjoy.

She set out the good dishes and smiled…She thought of her past, thought about what brought her to this moment. 30 years had past since she watched 4 little talcum coffins being lowed into the ground. Disease took all four of the children in 28 days. Those were dark days, some disease show no mercy, especially on children. They spent no more than a few weeks, in a state of living dead, until gracious death arrived bringing peace to broken and disease battered bodies. Talcum was needed to contain the disease and the heavy burden of cost was the responsibility of the parents alone.

The now middle aged woman looked at the special plates through blurred vision; some wounds leave deep and painful scares. She turned and moved around the kitchen putting some final touches on dinner.

It had been over 30 years since she came to Montreal, although she had little education she had taught herself to communicate in a second language; she learnt English, although her heart always spoke Gaelic.

She returns to the present to see a young man in his early 20s walk through the door, coming in from work. She smiled as she looked up and saw her youngest child. For just like Job, she was blessed with 4 more children to love and to raise. All of them could read and write English, something this mother was proud of. Seeing the good dishes on the table the young man asked: 'Who is coming for dinner?'

She thought of the days events; she remembered placing the last couple of coins down on the counter, Mr Bunnier smiled graciously as he accepted the money and put a zero in a little black book. It had been more than a couple decades since the corner store master started her tab, but now she smiled at her son, and said 
“No one is coming for dinner son.” 
“Then why the good dishes.” 
“Today, son, we owe no one anything.”

After a joy filled meal with her family, the woman is in the kitchen drying the good dishes when her cousin drops in. 

“Sorry, I didn’t know you had company.” 

“No it was just me and my boys.” 

“what is the occasion then?” 

“I paid off our tab at the corner store today.” 

“Congratulations! You know, now that you have paid off your tab, you should go to the STOP and SHOP, the prices are much better there.” 

“I will not!” Said the woman in a stern voice, “When I didn’t have he took care of me, and now that I do have, I will take care of him.”  
She never did go to the STOP and SHOP.