A Finicky Eater

A Finicky Eater

[God] richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

1 Timothy 6:17

I was a finicky eater as a kid. I loved ketchup but not tomatoes. I liked potatoes but not most green vegetables. I would say, “I don’t like that,” even when I had never tasted a particular food. Fortunately, I eventually gave up those childish ways and learned to eat many wonderful foods.

There’s a story about a very finicky eater: One day, a customer entered the most famous and expensive bakery shop in New York City. He ordered a cake baked in the shape of the letter s. He insisted on various details of its decoration and specified that it must be ready by a certain date.

The day before the deadline, the customer dropped by and found that his cake was finished and being decorated.

“This is all wrong!” he said, flying into a rage. “You’ve baked it in the shape of a capital S. I wanted it to be a small one. The whole thing will have to be done over, and you’ll have to have it ready by tomorrow anyway!”

He created such a fuss that the apologetic manager assured the customer they would make every effort to satisfy him. They would redo the cake, even though they felt the mistake had been a natural one.

The following day the customer returned and found his lowercase s cake decorated exactly as he had requested.

“That’s fine,” he said, much mollified. “That’s just right.”

He took out his wallet and paid for the cake.

“Now, sir,” said the proprietor, “where shall it be sent, or shall I box it so you can take it with you?”

“Oh, that’s all right,” said the customer with a wave of his hand, “I’ll just eat it here.” And he did!

For your wonderful gifts and blessings, Father, I thank you with all my heart. May I accept them with joy and share them happily with others. Amen.