The Baloney Sandwich

Adapted in part from a story by Bob Bennet

Do you remember when they had the old fashioned Sunday school Picnic?
They’d say,” let’s all meet at Central Park after church, lickity split
You bring what you want to eat and we’ll furnish the ice tea “
But you didn’t plan that far ahead if you’re anything like me
 
That day I’d come home after church just hoping to find something good
Maybe the fridge is filled with treats, just praying that it would
But staring back at me was just an old dried up piece of baloney
So I slapped it between some stale bread and thought, I’ll drink lots of tea

Well it finally came time to eat, so at the end of the table I took my seat
Spread out my sandwich and not to my surprise looked like I’d brought the least
Couldn’t help but notice the family next to me though had prepared a feast
The lady must have worked all day, she must have skipped church anyway
 
There was fried chicken, baked beans, potato salad, watermelon, fruit salad,
Homemade rolls, a peach pie, pecan pie, an apple pie, and two chocolate cakes
And the more I looked at that baloney sandwich, the more it I grew to hate
 
Then the lady said,” hey I’ve got an idea, why don’t we put it all together? “
To which I responded,” No, no I don’t want to be a bother “
I wouldn’t even think of it, trying to hide my true feelin’
At the same time embarrassed, but keeping one eye on the chicken
 
She said “ Oh come on, there’s plenty for all, enjoy it with no hitches
And besides, we all just love baloney sandwiches “

So there I sat, having come as a pauper, now eating like a king
What I had brought was so little, a meager offering
But that nice lady taught me a lesson, which I won’t soon forget
The day a baloney sandwich became a feast before me set

All of us at one time or another, as we run our way through life
Hang on to our baloney sandwiches, just trying to be nice
Even though we’re hungry and needing something good to eat
We think that because that’s all we have, our need it will have to meet

Well go ahead and hang on to it for just as long as you can
When the staleness and the tastelessness you can no longer stand
And you get so tired of hanging on to doing it your own way
Trying to figure out all the answers to the questions of each new day

When you’ve tried to accumulate and hold and grasp and clutch whatever’s there
When you finally realize that it’s all so little, and it hasn’t gotten you anywhere
Just remember what I’m telling you, you’re not alone with this to bear
There’s someone next to you, who’s wanting that sandwich of yours to share

His name is Jesus and he’s inviting you
To come to a special banquet up in heaven when life is through
So bring your baloney sandwich, for that is all you have to give
And He will provide the rest for all eternity to live

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