Americans love pizza! But not all pizza is equal. In fact some pizzas are like eating cardboard while others are the next thing to heaven. Let me ask you: If you had to pick just one kind of pizza to eat the rest of your life what would it be? The decision for me is easy: Giordono's deep-dish pizza in downtown Chicago. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, better!
I first tasted this ambrosia while attending graduate school in Chicago. My girlfriend Michelle, who is my lovely wife today, brought me there on a cold February evening for dinner. When you first enter the cozy restaurant, the warm smells of melting mozzarella cheese almost knock you over. After we were seated, the waitress handed us the menu and I studied it in delightful anticipation. Soon we came to common agreement and decided to order a large deep-dish pepperoni and sausage pizza. Michelle assured me, "It will take some time to cook, but it is well worth the wait." She was right; it sure was! "Mmm, mmm, delicious!" Oh, such rich spicy sauce and thick flaky crust! My taste buds were exploding with jubilation. However, after a few bites I realized there was only one problem with being a first-time Giordono's customer - -my stomach was not ready for it's fullness and it quickly reached the saturation level in no time. I could only eat two pieces at one sitting; and Michelle could only scarf down one. That left us with 5 pieces left. I asked the waitress to box up the rest so I could take it home. So the waitress came back with our pizza, we put on our coats, and headed back to campus. On the way home we decided to take a short-cut through a dark side street, and it was there we met a sad, hungry looking homeless man. He held out his hand to us and said, "Hey, do either of you have any spare change? I am really hungry and I need to buy some dinner. I haven't eaten for a couple days." I looked down at the box I was carrying, smiled, and said, "Friend, you are in luck! I happen to have 5 pieces of the best pizza in town and it is still warm. Sweet Giordono's, take it, it is all yours!" He stood up, rubbed his fore-head and with a quizzical look asked me, "Before I take it, I need to know - - what's on it?" "What? It's Giordono's! And I thought you were hungry?"He was rather disgruntled at my question and replied, "Yeah, but I hate sausage. And if it has sausage, no thanks!" "No thanks? You have got to be kidding me?" No thanks, for something so good? Why is ingratitude so common? I know it is with me; and if you were honest, it is with you too. Thanksgiving is here, and this is a time to step back and "forget not" all of the benefits you have been given by God (Psalm 103:1-2). Jesus died to set you free...is that not enough? God is your Father...is that not enough? The Holy Spirit lives in you, guides you, comforts you...is that not enough? I was hungry, and God fed me. In fact he gave and still gives me everything I need - - and because of this I have decided to be uncommon, instead of living in ingratitude I choose to give thanks! Do you?
3 Comments
Josh
11/21/2014 12:04:00 am
Now I want pizza
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Buddy
11/21/2014 10:03:36 am
I remember this story. It has stuck with me for almost 20 years now.
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Chris
11/21/2014 10:38:46 am
wow, what a great memory buddy!! I always knew you are a good man!
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