The Healing Effects Of A Barbecue

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

—Matthew 9:22

About six weeks after I left my job at the church in Grand Rapids, I had a little tiny bit of energy and readiness to move forward. The best way I could figure out to do that was to throw a party two months to the day after I left my job.

We filled our red wheelbarrow with ice and beer, and we cooked steaks and set out cupcakes and frosting and sprinkles for the kids. I waddled my pregnant self around and chatted with people I used to work with and missed terribly. We told stories, and when the sun dipped down, I passed out all our sweatshirts and fleeces, so we could stay out on the porch a little longer.

After everyone left, Aaron looked at me and said, “You’re back.” And now I’m a fervent believer in the healing effects of a barbecue, because that one brought me back to life a little bit. In the moments that I thought would be the loneliest, I had brothers and sisters sitting on the porch with me, telling me the truth as they saw it, which was a lot more beautiful than the truth as I saw it then.