Day Three: Three French Hens
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)
Nutrition
Nutritionists present new arguments every few years about what a truly balanced meal looks (and I suppose tastes) like. Sometimes eggs are in, sometimes eggs are out. Sometimes meat is in, sometimes meat is out. Sometimes fruit is in, sometimes fruit is out. Sometimes kale is in… well, kale usually is considered in.
I am glad that when it comes to what God gives us to be Spiritually balanced, He is pretty clear about the three things we need to have, and to give. Those three are faith, hope, and love. There are a lot of other useful and good things, but those three are always in.
French hens, throughout much of late medieval Europe, when this song was probably written, were the most common source of protein. French hens were plentiful, inexpensive, easy to care for, and sort of tasty.
In modern America, maybe macaroni and cheese are like French hens. Inexpensive, common, easily found and prepared, and sort of tasty.
The beloved in the song receives lots of French hens. The gift giver probably is making sure that the beloved gets what they need.
And so we Christians find what we need in faith, hope, and love. And we receive them only through Christ. He is where our faith is focused. He is the aim of our hope. And He IS love.
We can not provide these for ourselves. But Jesus can.