A Few Seconds
‘Tis the season of graduation parties, weddings, bridal
showers, barbecues, picnics, ice cream. . ., a season difficult for those of us
overly attracted to food.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended my eldest grandson’s
graduation party. His parents presented
to the party goers a buffet of enticing Mexican foods—burritos with all the
fillings and sauces, chips and salsa or guacamole plus a candy buffet (kids
loved it) with Swedish fish, kissin’ cousin of cherry Twizzlers, M & M’s .
. . . When I’d finished my serving of
burrito and chips, you know what? I
craved more. I wasn’t hungry; I just
wanted the continued pleasure of good taste.
So, I went to the candy buffet—mistake.
I can’t eat just one Swedish Fish.
Do you relate? When
you eat food at such events, do you find yourself craving more?
Eating involves so much—satisfying hunger, of course, providing
nutrients to the body. When we eat with others, eating provides
fellowship. But eating is also a sensual
pleasure. We like the feel of food in
our mouths and the pleasure of taste. Thus,
that pleasure provides comfort in times
of anger, sadness, frustration, even in times of joy, right? Let’s celebrate—with food.
God provides food for us.
He created our bodies, so also He provides the nutrients our bodies need
for health. Food is not an evil, but we humans have, at
times, distorted the appropriate use of food.
As I think of times I
crave more food than I need or use food for comfort, I think of those few
seconds before I choose to have a second helping, even though I’m no longer
hungry, or when I stop for an ice cream cone, but I’m not hungry. Those few seconds before I act when a still,
small voice speaks in my heart, saying, “You really don’t need or want that. Turn away.”
And I am reminded, God never tempts us, but He always
provides a way out. The temptations in
your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He
will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are
tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1Cor. 10:13,
New Living Translation.
In those few seconds before we reach our hands out to take
food we don’t need, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and provides to us the
power to turn away.
May you enjoy happy, healthy eating.
By Sharon Witty
May 17, 2018
