I've said it before and I'll say it again I love to eat!
I really do and no parts of me are ashamed of it.
Yes I am an emotional eater because food makes me happy! A warm piece of chocolate cake sitting next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a kiss of comfort. A good piece of corn bread positioned next to a heap of mustard greens makes me want to cry OUT!
(Don't judge me!)
Because of this love and fascination with food, I'm always looking for the next great recipe. Something different. Something new. Something that will make my family want to rise up and call me "Blessed!"
My poor family. They never really know what they will see when they park themselves at the dinner table. It's a good thing. It keeps them on their toes. It broadens their limited palates. It makes them very nervous.
My 14 year old son will eat anything that isn't nailed down to the table. He eats all day. Everyday. It's like a sport. He will eat bean and cheese burritos everyday if I would let him. My 13 year old daughter doesn't like sauces or condiments. But she eats spaghetti. She eats her veggies but not salads because she cannot have a wet salad dressing on it. But she loves barbecue with sauce. My 8 year old says vegetables destroy his taste buds. So it takes him an hour to eat 3 bites of peas. My husband eats whatever I cook. Not picky. He just wants a good home cooked meal
Needless to say, none of these desires and limitations interfere with my creativity. I'm so serious. I have five people to feed and I don't have time to make sure I cover every one's preferences. Whatever I cook is what's for dinner. I'm that mom. If you don't like it tonight, hold on! You may get lucky tomorrow night.
So this week was no different. As I served them, I saw that they were eating food that at one time they were utterly unyielding over and declaring that they would detest it. They were devouring food that made them dry heave when told to take at least ONE trial bite.
This made me understand that as a parent I give them their food preferences. I set their palates. I teach them what's healthy. I train them to choose options that they will glean the benefits and not have to repair the damage because of them.
It made me think of what I feed myself?
Then I wondered...
In what other areas of their lives am I feeding? What are their desires in music? Clothing? Education? Entertainment?
What are mine?
What do they desire spiritually? Do they have a palate for the things of Christ? Or have I not demonstrated or fed them enough in this area for them to even have a taste for Him?
Do I have a taste for Him?
Am I feeding them things that will give them life regardless of their preferences? Or am I serving according to their short lived feelings which results in a life of entitlement and self indulgence?
What am I feeding myself? Are my preferences His or mine? Does my life portray my choices? Does what others see in my behavior and choices represent what I say? Or does it contradict?
So...
I have to be up for the challenge of resistance. My kids nor I will always want to sit and read God's Word.
But we must.
There may be attempts to stray from modesty in clothing and behavior.
But we can't.
We may listen and then dismiss when we hear about what the Bible teaches us about love, serving others and sharing Christ.
But there is no alternative.
I have to keep molding, feeding and establishing their appetites and mine because the world is preparing a feast for us daily. A spread that will only give us an initial sense of fulfillment but leave us with a longing and emptiness that can never be fully satisfied.
Bon Appetit!
Blessings!
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