I know. I know. Some of you might disagree with me (I almost disagree with myself). But, these were the words Jesus spoke to my heart the other day.

I was headed to church early to serve as a greeter at the South Doors. I love to welcome faces I recognize, new-to-me faces, young faces, old faces. I’m a people person. I’m also a morning person. I was looking forward to getting up and walking out the door before any of my people were even awake.

I’m also a planner. The night before I prepped some food for me to take to church to eat after greeting duties were over. That food prep included two strips of heavenly bacon.

Bacon. Bacon. Where’s the bacon? I smell bacon! Bacon, bacon, bacon…

I think we all have a little inner Beggin Strips dog in us. If you don’t, I’m sorry.

So, there I was. First one up (per usual). Being the first one up has its advantages. Peace and quiet top that list for me. Most nights I lay my head on my pillow and think, We should move out to the plains, set up some tents, and charge an entrance fee. 

We’re an absolute circus. *eye roll*

Being the first one up also has its disadvantages. I open all shades, curtains, (and windows, as needed). I reset the thermostat. I start laundry. I straighten up from the night before, which often includes cleaning a messed-up kitchen.

I start the coffee.

I had grumbled to my husband about this on Saturday. Graciously, he listened. And on Sunday morning, he got up with me (he’s not a morning person, so I know this was no easy feat). He announced he was making coffee for me. It made me smile. He was trying.

I got ready for church. I was running a few minutes behind (also per usual). I whisked downstairs, grabbed my made-for-me-by-my-husband coffee, then opened the fridge to grab my already prepped, to-go breakfast. My banana and my banana bread were there.

I was frantically searching. “Where’s my bacon?”

I whipped my head around in time to see the guilty look on my husband’s face. “Umm…I thought that was my bacon.”

I eye-rolled and sighed big time. “Are you kidding me????? You are totally THAT employee. The one who eats everyone else’s food.”

I don’t think I was mad. Just absolutely irritated!!!!!! I didn’t even raise my voice (much), but I remember the frustration I felt in my heart as I turned away from him, and pointedly said, “I’m going to have to start putting my name on my food!”

And, with that…I walked out the door, on my way to kindly, lovingly greet my church-going family.

Since it was a quiet car-ride (hallelujah!), I had some time to process and pray. My praying started off as grumbling — Lord, it would have been easier for me if I had just gotten up alone, and taken care of myself this morning. 

*Note: for time’s sake, I’ve left out a few details (B pouring himself coffee in the last clean to-go cup as I came down to do the same, me being in a hurry and him being in my way, stuff like that). The stolen bacon was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.

My grumbling continued — I could have come downstairs, gotten my coffee, used that to-go cup, gotten out the door on time, AND…

I WOULD HAVE HAD BACON!

Now that I think about it, it’s embarrassing how stuck on that bacon I was.

In that moment the Lord did His usual — gently, firmly reminded me of His Word.

What are you constantly reminding your kids to do?

Love Jesus. Love others.

Why do you remind them to do these two things?

Because that’s what you call us to do.

But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” ~Matthew 22:34-40 NASB

I realized in that moment that I had missed an opportunity to love others. I was so caught up in my time, my needs, my bacon, that I’d neglected to love my husband.

*sigh*

Relationships are more important than bacon. 

The Lord simply responded, Yes.

It took a few minutes (it’s bacon, people), but I *finally* called my husband to apologize.

May we be a people who recognize the importance of living in relationship. May we be a people who do two things well…

Love Jesus. Love others.