Popcorn & KoolAid

By: Rev. David Mills

When I was growing up as a boy, my family didn’t have a lot of money. My dad was a pastor in rural Eastern Kentucky in one of the most impoverished areas in the USA. However, my parents taught me a very important lesson about hospitality and serving in our local community. 

They believed one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is the invitation into your home for a meal. My parents were always inviting people from the local church and community to our kitchen table. Even though we didn’t have money to feed them an extravagant meal, what we did have was popcorn & koolaid. Every Sunday night, my mom would pull the StirCrazy Popcorn machine and we would pop as much popcorn until everyone had enough. As for the drinks, the best and cheapest way to quench everyone’s thirst was a KoolAid packet, a little bit of sugar, and water. 

1 Peter 4:8-9 (NLT) reminds us to “…continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.” When was the last time you invited someone into your home for a meal? Is God bringing someone to your mind right now? Who do you need to show hospitality towards in the coming days? The lesson I learned many years ago as a little boy still rings true to me today. You don’t need much to love people – maybe just a little bit of popcorn and koolaid!