If you have ever attended one of our services or conferences or followed this blog for any length of time, the names B.B. and Velma Hankins aren’t new to you. I was blessed to have sat under their ministry during my childhood and youth and heard and watched the Word come alive service after service. To this day, I find myself quoting them or telling stories about this incredible couple.
In all my years of ministry, I don’t think I have ever shared this tidbit about Sister Hankins. I believe that their oldest son, Michael, shared this insight about his mom – Sister Hankins never quit eating a meal because she was full, but rather because her jaws got tired of chewing. I honestly believe that this was true. If you ever were privileged to enjoy a meal with the Hankins, you would notice that after placing a bite into her mouth, you could rest assured that it might be a while before she would eat the next bite.
Was this wisdom or just an oddity or quirk about Sister Hankins? If you spend a few minutes on the internet, you will discover that, unlike people like me and possibly you, she was, to use some Texas vernacular, smack-dag hitting-the-nail-on-the-head. Experts have a lot to say about chewing. A common consensus is to chew a bite of food 32 times, even more when it comes to harder-to-chew foods like steak and nuts. While there are many benefits gained by eating this way, one of the greatest is that it helps increase the amount of nutrients you get out of your food.
Are you wondering what in the world I am writing about? I know that this post isn’t laced with scriptures and deep theological thoughts, but it does share a much-needed insight for our walk with Christ. The insight is to chew God’s food slowly and reap all of the benefits of heaven’s manna.
Consider these two types of Bible readers.
1. Many Christians have a discipline and goal to read through the Bible in a year. Some even feel challenged to read through the Bible multiple times in a year. But, to me, this way of reading the Bible may have some benefits but can, if you’re not careful, be compared to cutting a bite-sized portion of steak and swallowing it whole. Was the steak eaten? Yes. Tasty? Maybe? Enjoyed? Nope.
2. There are those that I call the Sister Hankins chewers. These are the ones who chew and chew some more as they open God’s Word, looking at phrases and thoughts from different translations, highlighting and writing notes in the margins of the Bible. Do they read through the Bible at a regimented pace to accomplish a goal? It’s doubtful. Did they savor the taste of the spiritual food? Most definitely. Enjoyed? To the MAX!
My challenge for you is simple: Let’s be 32ers and eat every morsel of God’s Word’s “nutrients”!
Thank you for this, Billy. I remember this about her; I too find it hard to eat quickly. Thanks for sharing this “tidbit.” Good memories of good fellowship with quality people who were comfortable in their respective skins.
Love you, both.
Joy
Sister Hankins was one of the greatest teachers of the word that I knew besides her husband. They were so full of wisdom and love.
We sat under there teaching for years.
Love them so much. And you and Vicky.