CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON -- The Moral of the Story

“God is a God who invites. God is a God who calls. God is a God who

opens the door and waves his hand, pointing pilgrims to a full table.”

-- Max Lucado

“Are you open 24/7?” one of Amy’s friends asked me when our girls

were in high school.

Being the mother of teenagers at the time kept me pretty up to date on

the latest teen lingo, and I actually knew what she meant. The first time

I heard that particular phrase was when the girls had friends over. I

must have looked confused because our other daughter, Kelly, whispered to

me, “It means 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Mom.”

When Amy’s friend asked me if we were open “24/7”, she was looking at

a blue neon sign over our kitchen window that says, “Kitchen Open.” I

laughed when she asked and said, “Well, it actually is open a lot.”

“It’s open every time I come over,” she said.

“I love having people over,” I explained, and I do.

Our daughters often had friends for dinner during their high school

years. Sometimes they invited people and other times friends just

appeared. It didn’t matter. We just added chairs and pulled out whatever

was in the refrigerator.

I kept my fridge full and doubled recipes to keep my freezer well

stocked too. I realized early on that the food didn’t have to be gourmet,

and actually the best ingredients in cooking are love and time to sit and

share meals together.

The girls’ high school church group met here weekly for a year, and

many of them joined us for dinner ahead of time. There were times I’d

come home after a busy day, not sure what to cook or if I was up to

having a house full of teenagers.

At those times I’d pray for God to give me energy, and then I’d start

making a sauce for pasta by simmering crushed garlic and chopped onions

in olive oil. That gave enough time and enough good smells to see what

else I could throw in.

Once one of their friends walked in, moaned loudly, turned around and

walked back out. I thought he’d stubbed his toe or forgotten something.

Then he turned around and walked back in again.

“You have no idea how great that smells,” he said. “I just had to go

outside and walk in again to smell it, it is so inviting.”

Before long other teens came in, and soon I heard stories of what God

was doing in their lives. Many helped me in the kitchen, and they always

commented on our “Kitchen Open” sign.

Our living room isn’t large, but they would carefully move out most of

the furniture to accommodate everybody. When they started singing worship

songs to God, my husband Jon and I moved upstairs. To hear teenagers

singing about God’s power, love and forgiveness made me forget anything

that was bothering me. Their voices carried up the stairs, and I know

their hearts were lifted to God.

My kitchen has been happily open quite a bit this summer. But what is

even more inviting and exciting is that God is open and available 24/7.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.