The Way Meat Loves Salt…
21 Feb
I have recently (re)discovered Cinderella. There are Cinderella stories from all over the world and (so far) my favorite one is a retelling of a Russian-Jewish folktale called “The Way Meat Loves Salt”.
In a nutshell, a Jewish rabbi asked his three daughters how much they loved him…the older two answered with lovely answers – like diamonds, like the sun, moon and stars, like gold! The youngest (the most favorite) answered that she loved her father the way that meat loves salt. He was angry and threw her out of the house. The typical Cinderella story happened and when the “Cinderella” married her “prince” (the son of another rabbi) married, her father was invited and she order that all the food be prepared without salt. Her father (not recognizing her) made faces and said that the food was terrible – none of the meat was salted!
She then said, “But Father, don’t you remember? I told you that I love you the way that meat loves salt.” He recognizes her and they all live happily every after.
Can I tie this in? 
When I was thinking about writing this, I was finishing up a lesson plan on – you guessed it – multicultural Cinderellas. And this verse popped into my head.
”You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Matt5:13, ESV)
We – Christians – are the salt of the earth.
To relate it to the folktale -
We are to the world as salt is to meat!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)
God sent His Son because He loves the world and those in it. Do we love the world as well (not in the sin-nature sense, but in an evangelistic sense)?
Are we willing to be the “salt of the earth”?
Flavor, seasoning, preservative?
Do we strive to love the world (the people in it) in a way that shows God to them? The people of the world need Christians to bring the Gospel to them…they need us the way that meat “needs” salt.
Are we willing to be the “salt of the earth?”
I am willing to be as salty as God needs me to be, bless you.
I read this story many years ago,you recall me not only that little story,but most important is the message from the Lord, who ask us to be the salt to the earth. Thanks for this wonderful message.
I sure try to be. The world sure needs it. Lovely post.
Neat post…. I am facinated by all the versions of Cinderella. There are hundreds. Thank you.
Lovely post and it fits really well with the scripture you used.
lovely post. I recently started writing a devotional about the same verses only taking the aspect of salt in a healing aspect. God’s word is so awesome.