WHERE ARE ALL THE PEAS!!!
On New Year’s Day, my daughter, who works at HEB, texted me and said the black-eyed pea craze was insane. She said people were frantic to find any form of pea…fresh, frozen or canned. I agree the craze is crazy…I’ve even heard of people who don’t like black-eyed peas, cooking them and eating them on New Year’s Day. So, what is the tale behind the craze? There are many stories, some dating as far back as the 1800’s, when people saw them as a symbol of fertility, offerings for spirits, protection from the evil eye, and good luck. Even today, many people carry one in their bag or pocket for prosperity. Pastor Joseph touched on ritual behavior a few weeks ago, sharing that we live in a culture where we tend to do things because “it’s just how it’s done,” or “we’ve always done it that way.” In my humble opinion, this New Year’s craze falls under that umbrella.
Before you get all bent out of shape, I don’t care if you eat black-eyed peas once a year on New Year’s Day, all year long, or never. I love black-eyed peas, but I certainly don’t think they hold any special power to bring me good fortune. And I certainly wouldn’t be going crazy in a grocery store if the lady in front of me picked up the last can. As believers of Jesus Christ, we should be putting our faith and hope in Him, not in a pot of one-eyed legumes.
There are other things that Pastor Jerry has warned us about that steal the glory from the One who deserves it. To bring us good luck, we cross our fingers or knock on wood, and to ward off bad luck, we avoid walking under ladders or breaking a mirror. Seriously, have you ever broken a mirror and had 7 years of bad luck? We do these things because we’ve been taught that “it’s just how it’s done,” and we believe it, accept it and pass it on to our kids. But when we look to these ritualistic behaviors to bring us “good luck,” we’re not looking to our heavenly Father, who is the source of ALL good things. James 1:17. In our house, we don’t believe in luck or coincidence…we believe in favor and God’s perfect timing.
Again, if I’ve stepped on any toes, I’m sorry. Undoubtedly, traditions are special and play a vital role in a family’s history; I’m just trying to shed some light on those who may be craving the craze for the wrong reason. Eat the peas, preferably with a big piece of cornbread…YUM…just be sure to Praise God for all His blessings and then Pray for His wisdom, Provision, and Protection for the New Year, because these are the only P’s we need to go crazy over! Happy New Year!