"Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17)

I have a son who absolutely loves clam chowder. Another really likes salmon. And my third son loves to eat and make peanut butter popcorn. My daughter will eat my leftovers and she brings her friends to our home for lunch and shares our food with them as well. I do like to cook and I usually make breakfast for our children before school, even if it is just a smoothie. I realized that I spend a lot of time cooking and feeding my family and others. I mean a lot of time!

It hit me the other day that feeding my family is one of the best things I could spend my time doing. I love gathering to eat together, to share our day, share what was good and what was bad. It is a wonderful time even if the food is consumed within a few bites. Feeding my family consists of more than just making food. It's also about feeding their souls, building family relationships, creating memories. We are gathering. One of the Lord's great purposes is to gather and feed His sheep.

When Christ appeared to his disciples for the third time after He had risen, He says to Peter three times, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17). Feeding our families is a blessing. We not only feed our families, Christ's sheep, by making food for them, but we also feed them through kindness, love, service, having a cheerful attitude, being quick to forgive and so many other ways. There may be times when we don't know how to feed others or our families. Comfort comes from the words of Christ, saying: "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers...Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep" (D&C 112:10, 14).

Making and taking the time to cook and feed others is a great blessing. When I realized I was doing more than just slapping food together and stuffing my kids with food, my attitude changed about making dinner and other meals. I am following Christ and answering His call to "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17). Gratefully we can feed His sheep daily as we feed our families and others we come in contact through small acts of service, love, and sharing our "food".

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Recipe for Clam Chowder:
2 cans (6 1/2 oz. each) minced clams
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
1-2 celery stalks, diced (or 1/2 tsp celery salt)
1 large onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup flour (I use Pamela's baking mix or Grandpa's Kitchen other Gluten Free flour)
1 quart half and half
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
pepper to taste (I like to use white pepper, but black is great)

Pour juice from clams over vegetables in large saucepan. Add water to barely cover. Cover. Simmer about 20 min (until potatoes are tender). Meanwhile, make roux by melting butter and then stir in flour. Mix until smooth. Whisk in half and half. Stirring constantly; cook until smooth and thick. Add undrained  vegetables and remember the clams (I have forgotten these before). Heat without boiling. Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. (yields 8 servings)

Recipe for Peanut Butter Popcorn
2 bags microwave popcorn (about 6-8 cups)
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo or corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter

Pop popcorn and remove unpopped kernels. In a pot combine the sugar and syrup. Cook and stir until just boiling. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter. Stir in popcorn.