Nana, where is the cake?

January 19, 2024

“I expected light, but gloom arrived”. ~ Job 30:26 CEB

Rod and I, accompanied by our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren, drove the backside of Maui, from Kihei to Kaupo to help us remember and reflect on our wedding vows in a brief worship service at Hui Aloha Church. When the service was over, we drove back the same way to Maui Wine in Kula for light refreshments and words of thanks in what is known as the “Old Jail” building which dates back 150 years. We had soft drinks and wines, served with charcuterie boards, and assorted other snacks, and hits from the 70’s on a real record player.

The Old Jail at Maui Wine. Anne-Sophie is in the last seat on the left.

As we were getting ready to leave for our accommodations back in Kihei, nine-year-old granddaughter Anne-Sophie asked me, “Nana, where is the cake?” “What cake?” I asked. “Weddings always have cakes, Nana,” Anne-Sophie replied. “O, honey. We didn’t even think about a cake. Maybe we can have dessert after dinner.”

In hindsight it made perfect sense that Anne-Sophie expected cake. Maybe it was because we brought the album of our wedding photos to the Old Jail, and she was very curious about Grandpa and Nana cutting their wedding cake, and then feeding each other a bite. She’s never been to a wedding or reception, but she has nine years of TV shows, movies, books, and video games to have seen the practice.

Anne-Sophie’s expectation was dashed, but it certainly wasn’t the end of the world for her. In fact, for dessert the next evening, I picked up miniature cupcakes and her Papa picked up large cupcakes. Not wedding cake, but close.

The other night, our younger granddaughter, almost-seven-year-old Marie-Hélène, told me about the lesson she learned in Sunday School. Job lost his livestock, his barns and house, his children, and his health. He expected light, but gloom arrived instead. She told me the child’s condensed version of the story. Job called on God, and his health, his livestock, his property, and his children were restored.

I am one who tries to manage my expectations, hoping for the best, but also knowing that the not-best might happen. What I have found is that the not-best can lead me to deeper understanding and ultimately more light. These days, I hope more than anything to be aware of God’s presence in the not-best as well as the best.  What about you? ~ Anne