The smell of incense was cloying, especially when it was coupled with the smell of hot grease, but it didn’t matter. We were in our very favorite Chinese restaurant in the whole world. (Well, all of Chinatown, anyway.)
The table linens were pure white, and the napkins were blood red. The glasses had….(gasp) STEMS and there was no silver ware, just chop sticks. “Kids, we’re going to have something very special tonight. I want you to try it and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat any more, BUT I will serve it to you, okay?” We all agreed – hey, we had our drinks with little paper umbrellas and maraschino cherries in it, why wouldn’t we agree?!!!
Dinner came and the very special food arrived, as well. It was in a beautiful, large blue and white tureen. Around the tureen were glass spoons with large flat bottoms to them. The waiter threw in a handful of rice noodles, which snapped, crackled and popped so much Kelloggs would have been green with envy.
My Dad scooped each of us a small bowlful of soup – which we ate with some hesitancy. (Keep in mind this is the same Dad who used those same words, “very special food”, the time that he had brought home chocolate covered grasshoppers. No, I’m not kidding!) This time, however, it wasn’t bad. The broth was very much like a light chicken broth and the rice noodles were fun to eat. I ate my entire bowl and then attacked my sweet and sour chicken with a vengeance.
At some point during the meal, my little brother needed to use the restroom, so he and Dad disappeared for a few minutes. While they were gone, I decided that some more soup was in order. (Must have been a growth spurt.) So, like any wise young lady – I mean doesn’t EVERYONE know that all the good things sink to the bottom of the tureen?!! oysters being the exception – I stirred the soup.
I don’t know if I really screamed or not. I know that I sure felt like it, as there, floating to the top of the soup – the soup I had ALREADY eaten – was bird feathers, bugs and small sticks. I thought I was going to be sick. “MOM!!” was all I’m CERTAIN I screamed said. She had been helping my little sister with her food, so she missed my big girl attempts to serve myself. As I recall, she laughed until I thought she was going to be sick too. (My Dad, upon his return was no better. It’s a wonder I don’t have more emotional issues from my youth and childhood.) 
I am finding that this process of becoming an entrepreneur is a lot like stirring the soup. There has been so much nasty stuff that has risen to the top, in this process. Jeff and I are finding that the Lord is using this process to further cleanse us from unrighteousness and to refine us deeper and deeper. I say, without hesitation that this has been hard….very hard. I can also say without hesitation that I’m grateful…very grateful for all that Father is teaching and working in us and our lives.
For those of you that are following even remotely in our footsteps, please know that there is a special gracing for this time, but it is hard, nonetheless… and it will stretch you and work deeper in you than you could ever imagine. But the joy of seeing this birthed is a amazing, as well. Especially when you are doing so, with your eyes focused on the importance of seeking first the Kingdom of God.
It is then that we are able to receive all that Father has for us, including all the sticks, feathers and bugs – the yukky stuff. And just for the record, should you ever find yourself being served Bird’s Nest soup – take my word on this and DO NOT STIR IT! It’ll put a real damper on your meal. It might even cause emotional issues that will need to be dealt with later. 
