I was sitting at my writing desk attempting to knock out my social media posts for the next week when my phone rang, showing my father-in-law’s name on the screen. I thought it was odd because we aren’t the “call each other regularly” kind of family. In fact, in the last year, he had only called when his septic system backed up and he was desperate for the name of the company we used when we had our own septic tank emergency.
I answered.
“I need a favor,” the gruff voice said as soon as I picked up the phone. “Can you do me a favor?” he went on.
Not knowing what this favor would entail and fearing it had something to do with a septic emergency, I answered, “Well, that depends on what this favor is,” laughing awkwardly and fearing the worst.
He explained that he needed me to make dinner for his wife, my mother-in-law, for her birthday the next evening. I knew what was coming, having heard the story of the time he made her Lobster Thermidor multiple times.
He told me he was dropping the recipe book off with money to cover the supplies, and I immediately started asking a million questions to make sure I didn’t screw this monumental favor up: Side dishes? Favorite foods? Dessert?
His only request: Lobster Thermidor. The rest would be up to me.
No pressure.
He dropped off “Rachel Ray 30 Minute Meals” and cash. I went to work creating a menu, a shopping list, and a plan for creating the perfect meal. Before they mentioned it, I had never even heard of Lobster Thermidor, let alone made it!
I looked on Pinterest, trying to wrap my head around my task. Cooking doesn’t intimidate me, but cooking new things I’ve never eaten before for a monumental special occasion caused me a bit of anxiety.
As if that anxiety wasn’t enough, have you ever tried to find Lobster–fresh or even frozen–in the sticks of Ohio? For dinner the next evening?
No?
Me either.
Fun fact–it’s impossible.
I picked up all the other groceries I needed that evening–except the Lobster; those I had to drive an hour to Costco the next day to find.
You could say it was a stressful day.
I am very much a Type A personality, which means that when people are coming to dinner at my house, I like everything done when they get there, the table set, and it to look like the meal had been effortless.
This was not the case.
Rachael Ray is a liar.
Lobster Thermidor takes way more than 30 minutes!
When my in-laws walked in the door, I was cutting the shells off the tale and hadn’t even started on the Thermidor sauce.
I was a wreck.
45 minutes later, the Lobster Thermidor was on the table, and we all shared a good laugh–somewhat at my expense, dinner was delicious, the cake was exquisite, and my mother-in-law couldn’t quit raving about how this was the best birthday she could ever remember having.
I could have said no when my father-in-law called, bowed to the fear, and found a thousand reasons why I couldn’t make this meal happen. That would have been the easiest response.
Even though I was a sweaty, frazzled mess by the time dinner was served, my stress paled in comparison to the blessing I was to them that night–simply because I stepped out of my comfort zone to meet the needs of my loved ones.
There’s something so intimate and so meaningful about the entire process of feeding the ones we love, but there’s also something so intimate and so meaningful to sitting around the table with them, opening your hearts and lives to them, and meeting them right where they are.
Friends, during his last supper with them, Jesus left his disciples with the command to love others. The next time someone challenges you to move out of your comfort zone to heap love on others, I pray you see it as a privilege and know that what you’re being asked to do just might be the biggest blessing they’ve ever received.
Kristen is a recovering fundamentalist who believes that truth, faith, and the sovereignty of God will survive deconstruction and are absolutely critical components of healthy reconstruction. She loves literary analysis and reading scripture with an analyst’s eye. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband–Russ, daughter–Kate, faithful dog–Lucy, and her grandma’s cat–Butters (that’s a story for another day). When her parents aren’t snowbirds, they join the party in their mother-in-law’s suite, affectionately referred to as Cabin B.
Where to find Kristen…
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5 thoughts on “Lobster for the Lady”
This is just a beautiful testimony of “being there” for our loved ones! As a fellow type A, I often get hung up on trying to be perfect. Things go better when I just commit to showing up – even imperfectly!
Yes, such a good reminder of a lesson I’ve had to learn over and over myself!
This is so good Kristen! I felt your heart while reading this! Love looking at these situations as divine interruptions and an opportunity to let God use us beyond our comfort zone to draw those we love closer to Him … 🙏💕
This is a tremendous story and a fabulous testimony of how God uses us in the tiniest of ways when we make ourselves available to serve. You made their day! Thanks for sharing.
A little bit service and obedience goes a long way!