Some of life’s most treasured memories happen around a table, where good food, laughter, and friendship bring people together. For Evelyn Roberts, one simple rice pilaf recipe became a reminder of something far more meaningful than a favorite dish: the power of love to make ordinary moments extraordinary.

The friendship between Oral and Evelyn Roberts and Demos and Rose Shakarian lasted more than sixty years. Demos, the founder of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, and Oral both traveled the world through their ministries. Yet, despite their global influence, these four friends came from humble beginnings and treasured the simple joys of life, including the time they spent together, the conversations they shared, and the recipes they exchanged.

One of Evelyn’s favorite dishes was a rice pilaf she served on special occasions. Oral loved it, and so did everyone who gathered around her table. Presented in a beautiful serving dish with lovely silverware, the rice seemed like a special creation that required hours of preparation and a secret culinary technique.

Naturally, I wanted the recipe!

When I finally asked Evelyn how to make it, she confessed, “I really hate to give out the recipe.” I assumed she was protecting a treasured friendship secret she and Rose had shared. But the truth made us both laugh. Her much-admired rice pilaf was made with uncooked rice, margarine, and a packet of dry chicken noodle soup mix!

There were no complicated instructions, expensive ingredients, or hours of work. It was wonderfully simple. Evelyn laughed as she revealed her secret, and I discovered that the real magic of her recipe was not in the ingredients. It was in the love with which she prepared and served it.

I believe the secret ingredient in Evelyn’s rice pilaf was love—pure love. She presented the dish as something special, telling the story of how the recipe had passed from Rose to her beloved friend Evelyn. Because of the love and meaning behind it, everyone at the table felt special, too. Over the years, Evelyn made the rice pilaf for us many times. After learning the recipe, I made it for Oral and Evelyn as well. But the most precious part was listening to Evelyn talk about friendship, love, and the beautiful simplicity of the Roberts and Shakarian families’ relationship. She often compared that kind of love to our relationship with God.

Isn’t that a wonderful reminder? Sometimes we think that making something special requires more effort, more ingredients, or something extraordinary. Yet love can transform even the simplest things into lasting memories. Evelyn understood that the same principle applies to our relationship with God. His love is not complicated or reserved for a select few. He desires a personal relationship with each of us. We don’t have to earn His love through elaborate efforts. We can come to Him in faith, trusting in the love He has already shown us through Jesus. First John 4:19 tells us, “We love him, because he first loved us” (KJV).

Just as Evelyn’s beautifully presented rice pilaf made people feel welcomed and valued, we can share God’s love through the simple things we do every day—a meal prepared for someone, a listening ear, an encouraging word, or a moment spent with a friend.

Sometimes the simplest gifts become the most treasured because of the love behind them. Evelyn’s rice pilaf was never just a recipe. It was a reminder of decades of friendship, cherished memories, and a love that made ordinary moments extraordinary.

As you gather around your table, may you remember that the best ingredient in any recipe—and in any relationship—is love. Let your home be a place where people feel welcomed, your friendships be strengthened by kindness, and your heart reflect the love God so freely gives. Make your day count by sharing a little love. You never know how one simple act of kindness might become a treasured memory in someone else’s life.