The Gift of Cake

There is one question invoked every single time a wedding invitation is received in our home. I wonder what kind of cake they will have? That’s right, I’m not ashamed to admit my affections for wedding cake. In fact, there are moments when I recall the aroma and flavor of my own wedding cake when glancing over a wedding invitation. Chocolate ganache, strawberry cream, and lemon zest swirl around in my head activating my olfactory memories. Can we all agree that wedding cake is a gift from God? 

Now that we have established cake is a gift from God let’s examine further. Did you know on average a couple spend 528 hours planning their wedding over the course of a 10-18 month engagement? When broken down that is roughly 66 (8 hour) workdays! A wedding is an important event that deserves attention to detail. However, have we succumbed to a false idea that we are capable of creating an event of perfection because we believe that we are the ones in control? 

While it’s common that couples will spend a significant amount of time, energy, and money planning their wedding there is something else surprisingly common. Many brides and grooms don’t even have a chance to enjoy their own wedding cake during their wedding reception. I’m emphasizing enjoy here; I’m not including the tradition of smashing cake in your newly wedded face. Time is often spent apart and away attempting to keep ordered details from falling out of place. How sad it would be to do all that planning, prepping, and spending to not enjoy cake! 

We do not have the ability nor the responsibility to establish environments of perfection. This weekend I was reminded of this reality as Luke records Martha’s behavior during His visit to her home. While Martha works diligently attempting to control the environment she (we) quickly neglects the God who controls all things sitting in her living room. 

Should we plan? Prepare? Tidy up our homes? Yes! But, we should also see that readiness as our opportunity to enter into incarnational relationships absent of panic for perfection. We are free to stop and enjoy the cake. May we move forward with confidence in the truth of God’s word as the Psalmist writes, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Submitted by: Mikey Conrad