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Potluck

Potluck

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Potluck--table with lots of foodDo you enjoy potluck meals? If you grew up in a large extended family like I did, you understand potluck. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends from everywhere bring food. Lots of food. Stick to your ribs food.

Attend church potlucks, and you get a little taste of heaven on earth. Dishes that weigh down tables, plus fellowship with other believers, fill both body and soul.

Friends, co-workers, and neighbors also create great potlucks. Food and fun abound.

Potlucks may be inside, outside, or on a hillside. We once invited neighbors to a potluck picnic on top of the hill behind our house. A farm wagon served as our table. Everyone enjoyed the scenery as well as multiple plates of country cooking.

Potluck refers to a shared meal with dishes brought by those who attend.

You bring whatever dish you desire. Although unplanned, the meal usually includes plenty of everything. No one stresses, because the meal is casual and everyone helps.

Potluck (sometimes written as pot luck) means to take a chance on an uncertain outcome.

Of course, if you attend a potluck meal, you take your chances on what you get to eat. However, this also refers to other unknowns, including:

  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Work
  • Any situation with little information but high hopes

You have one certain outcome available to you.

If you trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, you never have to guess. You never have to face unknowns alone. Plus, God has planned a banquet for you and other believers in heaven.

“Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 14:15 NIV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pexels.

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Butter Up

Butter Up

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Butter Up-butter with knife and a butter moldWhen we prepare special meals or snacks, we often butter up our food to make it taste better. What would holiday meals be like without butter for the turkey, rolls, and desserts? Who wants to eat popcorn without butter during a movie? Most people find butter a pleasing addition.

Not my husband. When he was three years old, his grandmother used a mold to create a beautiful dish of butter. When he saw it on the kitchen table, he thought it was ice cream. Like most little boys would do, he found a spoon and took a bite. He still hates butter.

To butter up means to flatter or be extra nice to someone.

We usually do this before we:

  • Ask for a favor
  • Give bad news

This expression applies to most relationships.

Children butter up their parents before they ask for:

  • Money
  • A special toy or gift
  • Use of the car

Or, children may have to tell parents of :

  • Trouble they caused
  • Bad grades
  • Chores they failed to do

Students also butter up their teachers, hoping for a better grade. Employees butter up their bosses before requesting a raise.

If we do our best, we don’t have to butter up anyone.

Instead of being nice in order to get what we want, why not be nice all the time? Rather than put off bad news, why not be honest from the start? We never need to butter up if we stay on the up and up and do what we need to do.

 “You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness” (1 Thessalonians 2:5 NIV).

Thanks to Regina Graham for the suggestion.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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