On a recent trip to Costco I saw moon cakes, which reminded me of an incident while I lived in Singapore.    

Lotus seed paste filling around egg yolk “moon”

Moon cake is a thick filling of red bean or lotus seed paste surrounded by a thin crust.  It is eaten with Chinese tea during mid-autumn harvest festival, a festival celebrated by Singaporean Chinese.

One year during this festival, I planned to give moon cake to our laundry man as a ‘care act’ with the intention to build relationship.  This moon cake was one of the best qualities given to my husband as a gift by his supplier.

While I debated whether this would count as a care act, I took two cakes out of the box of six, placed it in a paper plate and covered with plastic wrap so the beautiful moon cake would be visible.  The doorbell rang and I greeted him, received the shirts that was washed and pressed.  Before settling the bill I gave him the moon cake.  Happily he received and said thank you.  His next question bothered me.  He asked, “You don’t like it uhhhh?” with a Singaporean accent.  He misunderstood my intention.  I gave him the money and closed the door.

Disappointed, I walked back to the living room.  Why did he make the comment, was it because it was not the whole box or was it because it was durian flavored moon cake?  I self talked to find an answer.

God stepped into the conversation.  He asked, whom do you believe, you or the laundry man and who knows your intention, you or him?  Definitely, I know my intention.  He said I know you better than you know yourself and I am pleased in your care act.  I looked for approval from men instead of God.  

Jesus knows our thoughts (Matt 12:25); God knows the secrets of the heart (Psalms 44:21).  If our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him (I John 3:21).  Let’s continue to “give moon cakes” and pray that others will be yoked with Christ. 

It was a reminder, not to let people’s comments deter my desire to do His will and not to let my emotions tamper my actions.  Doing things with the right intention brings pleasure to God and us regardless of the recipient’s acceptance, rejection or enjoyment.  In other words, our action in obedience to His commands pleases God regardless of the outcome.