I began learning the fine art of husbandhood in 1960. As our children came along, we chose to have a full time mom in our family. It seemed good to me to try and provide the most up to date equipment we could afford for my wife.

Here’s the kind of thing I’ve consistently run into over 39 years of marriage. When we were able to get a washing machine in 1963, I thought we should go for one of the “new” automatic models. My wife wanted the “old-fashioned” wringer type with two rinse tubs. We bought the wringer machine. Right after we bought it, we loaded it into a moving truck and headed for a new church planting adventure in Texas.

The little tiny parsonage had a basement. In the basement was an old, nearly worn out automatic washer. After a few loads in the automatic, I loaded the brand new, not out of the box, wringer washer and rinse tubs into a borrowed trailer and delivered them to the man to whom I was fortunate enough to sell them for just about what I’d paid for them!

The next major item that I believed needed to be upgraded was my wife’s sewing machine. She had a little featherweight model that did a pretty decent job but didn’t have any “whistles and bells”. She was a most excellent seamstress and I figured that having a much more sophisticated machine would allow her to make even better clothing. Well, her response was, “This machine is all I’ll ever need. I wouldn’t use a fancier machine. We shouldn’t spend money on another sewing machine.” As a still-green husband, I took it upon myself to go buy her a state of the art sewing machine and bring it home. There were no fireworks, but the sewing still took place on the featherweight! When I came home for lunch a few days later, there was a card table in the living room with the new machine all set up. As you might guess, after a day sewing with the new model, I wouldn’t have been able to pry it out of her hands.

After nineteen years of marriage, Joyce went Home to be with the Lord. God brought Pat into my life shortly thereafter. Guess I didn’t realize that this approach to new things might not be peculiar to one person. Not too long after we were married, Pat and our daughter, Kathleen, took a sewing class. Of course, the company that sponsored the course had the most up to date sewing machines.

Still wanting to be a good provider (and maybe a hero at the same time), I offered to buy Pat the “newest, greatest, bestus” sewing machine on the market. Her reply was, “I’ve been sewing on this twenty-five year old slant needle since I was fourteen. It does everything I need a sewing machine to do.” Now, Pat is a most excellent seamstress. She made most of her own clothes. This just didn’t make sense to me! Again, without agreement or approval, I went to see the man who owned the fabric store. I asked him to recommend the very best sewing machine in the world. He explained that while he sold several different brands, there was only one “best”. This Christian brother really sweetened the deal. He said that he would sell me the best for his actual cost, about half the retail price.

Well, you guessed it! I lugged the thing home, strapped to the back of my motorcycle. It sat in the corner for a few days. The ol’ slant needle still hummed away. One day, I came home for lunch. The new sewing machine was set up on the dining room table. Yep, you guessed it again. After a day on the new machine, the slant needle went to our daughter, Christina. I couldn’t have pried the new sewing machine out of Pat’s hands with a crow bar.

I could cite many more instances, but I want to leap frog ahead. Pat is also a very fine cook and baker. Over the years, she elevated home made bread baking to a fine art. She’d end up with little tiny puffs of flour from head to toe, punching, kneading, slamming, poking, and flogging the dough. The process took several hours. Was it worth it? Well, the smell that permeated the house was exquisite! The bread was more than worth eating. However, to me, it seemed like it took a lot of hours to produce something that was gone in a few minutes! With three growing children, the last part wasn’t that difficult.

When the bread machine hit the consumer market, I offered to get one for Pat. Her response? “Hey, you don’t understand. I enjoy the process of punching, kneading, slamming, poking, and flogging. I don’t want a bread machine.”

Well, a few months later, we were having lunch with a very dear friend. Pat had baked her a loaf of bread (as she often did). I was telling the story of my attempts to get Pat a bread machine. Our friend said that just the day before, she’d been looking at her bread machines and told the Lord that it was a waste to have it just sitting there and not being used. She didn’t think she’d ever use it again. Our friend asked Pat if she would like it. We ended up picking up the bread machine that day. From that time to this, Pat has not made a single loaf of bread the old-fashioned, “fulfilling” way.

Now we’ve made it through the introduction. That means the story is nearly over! Pat began making loaves of bread for people we knew could use a little encouragement. They didn’t need bread! They needed to know that someone cared about them. Several people in their 90’s got Pat’s special loaves. A neighbor across the back fence got a loaf regularly. His wife died and we felt that he needed a love loaf. The lady who gave us the machine received a loaf on a regular basis.

One of our favorite recipients grew up the daughter of a baker. When she pronounced Pat’s bread the best she ever had, did Pat feel honored! Lately, Pat has headed out for church on Sunday morning with a loaf of bread, praying as she drives that the Lord will show her to whom she should give the loaf of bread.

Here are two of many “thank you” notes Pat’s received.

So, what’s my point? God can use anything to reach out to people. The scriptures tell us about the great efficacy of something as inexpensive and simple as a glass of cold water. It isn’t the value of the bread! It’s the fact that someone cared enough to share. I call Pat’s Love Loaves, our one pound missionaries. We’ve recently included a neighbor whom we saw every day sitting in front of his home. We’re praying that this lovely loaf of bread will open the door to sharing with him about Jesus.

Do I wish I could replace this one pound machine, nearing the worn-out stage, with a new two pound machine? Yep. Will I ever have the courage to go buy the new model and bring it home? I frankly don’t know. I’m getting a little older. I’m not quite as bold as I used to be. Hey, I might just go for it. Stay tuned for news on that subject! I’ll let you know.

What do you have in your hand with which you could do good missionary stuff for the Lord? Look forward to your responses through “E-mail”. Just click on the “Contact Us” tab on the top to of the page or use the “Leave a Reply” box below!

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