Potato Salad

Potato salad. It has been almost six months since my wife has made potato salad, a staple of our summer menu. No, it's not summer yet, but I welcome the first batch of potato salad. Perfectly cooked potatoes, not too firm, not too soft. Salad dressing. Mustard. Finely chopped celery and onion. Chopped cooked eggs. Pickle relish. A little bit of celery salt. And when it is all mixed and transferred to the serving bowl, a dash of paprika for color.

I view my wife's potato salad as a simple gift. It also symbolizes everything that is good about summer. Family dinners on the deck. Picnics at the lake. Extended family get-togethers. Time spent with friends. Potato salad is a comfort food. There is something safe about it. Something wholesome.

Why such praise of potato salad? I am not sure! I guess it is the simplicity of it all.

As we await our children to return home from school for dinner (which will include the aforementioned potato salad), I am taking time to reflect on the simple pleasures of the day.
To thank God for His goodness.

Hugs and kisses from all three of my children. A car ride (in the back seat) to accompany my wife on her errands. Seeing some friends at school when stopping to pick up our younger son.
Sunshine. Cool breezes.

And even more, the love of God. The encouragement of friends. The hope of a new day. A better day.

Cancer may weaken or even destroy my body, but it cannot touch my spirit - unless I choose to let it do so. Admittedly, I sometimes give in to sinful patterns of thinking and let it have such a negative influence. But today, in this moment, I rejoice because of the simple pleasures of life. I rejoice because of life itself. I rejoice because of the abundant life I have in Christ.

A life which is to be enjoyed. A life which includes potato salad!