First smoothie I’ve made since moving to our new apartment four months ago! Why so long? Well, it’s a short lesson in humility really.

The last few years, I’d mastered the art of whipping up the most nutrition packed, blendable ingredients conceivable (and inconceivable) as well as attempts at converting family members to the blended side – unsuccessfully. When we prepared to move this past April, I took great pride in meticulously, Tetris-style packing my beloved Ninja with all its not inexpensive accessories meticulously nestled in the perfect sized moving box, sealed, then labeled accordingly.

We’ve moved like 20+ times in our 31 year marriage, so this move was not my first rodeo. I’d even booked the same moving crew we used when we downsized from the big house in which we raised Natalie and Meagan to an apartment. This 3-man crew was everything you’d want for a three-part complicated move (house, apartment, storage facility). They were super courteous, efficient, diligent, and over-the-top detailed down to bubble wrapping individual light bulbs and screws. Made my OCD heart so happy.

This time around, I was shocked and disappointed to find my precious Ninja box missing upon settling in and unpacking. I immediately called the moving company to have them re-check the truck and inquire with the crew about my missing box. The next day the message was not good. I thanked him for checking and asked that he continue to keep an eye out for me if my box should somehow reappear.

Days and weeks later, I got sad every time I opened the kitchen cabinet gazing upon the empty shelf I’d marked out for my Ninja comrades. Sadness turned to anger as I now imagined some stranger blending smoothies with MY Ninja. How can one possibly enjoy smoothies made with a dishonestly acquired blender? The little angel on my shoulder said “Now, now, maybe it’s a poor working mom who was miraculously given your box by a stranger who just happened to find it, and this mom had been praying for a way to make healthier meals for her family who have all lost their teeth because they couldn’t afford dental care?” Then the little devil on my other shoulder answered back “Don’t be ridiculous! You know they intentionally stole your box on moving day, immediately put it on EBay, and made a killing! If it makes you feel better, picture the thief choking on his next smoothie!” This dialogue went on for like two months.

Last month, Dave was searching for something (can’t remember what) supposedly still unpacked from the move. I insisted everything had been unpacked and put in its proper place. Together we stood there staring at boxes in our apartment garage that I would swear in a court of law that I had already combed through with my eagle eyes.

“What’s in here?” he asked pointing to a perfectly sealed unlabeled box then proceeded to open it. GAH! There it was exactly as I had NOT imagined it! My beloved Ninja set – blender base, nutribullets, processors, attachments, and all.

Today, as I drink my fresh ginger root, kale, beet, pineapple, blueberry, mango, chia seed, coconut smoothie, I do so with my tail tucked between my legs. From this day forward, I dub all my Ninja-made smoothies “Humble Pie.” I mean, “Humble Smoothie.”

Truth be told, many things have humbled me this summer. A few of those have already made the highlight reel in previous blog posts. But unlike the others, this one actually made me laugh. God has a great sense of humor. Blended with abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Dare I say, He is the ultimate Ninja.

‘And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ James 4:6-7 NLT