Craving What?

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, ‘If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!’” (Numbers 11:4-6 NIV).

Do you ever crave a food? What do you crave? Craving is an all-consuming desire. Women who have experienced pregnancy probably can share something they craved. Sometimes there are other health factors that create cravings. If you desire chewing ice it may be a sign that you are anemic. There may be others; please share. 

Though I’m no longer pregnant or anemic, ice cream is my nearly constant craving. Is it the dairy content or the creamy, smooth, comfort food characteristic? I wish there was some physical reason I crave ice cream but I’m afraid it is just its cool deliciousness.

Imagine the life of a prisoner of war being fed a basic minimalistic meal of bread and water. I wonder if he/she craved anything specific. I can’t really imagine being lost in the desert and provided one thing to eat for weeks, months, or even 40 years!

I’m pretty sure I would have been one of those complaining, not thanking God for His provision every day like clockwork. Not thanking God for doing all the work of preparation and delivery of a healthy meal that was filling and nourishing.

God is so good to us, even when we don’t appreciate it. Although we can’t eat a diet of candy bars or sweet cakes and pies and brownies and lasagna and chicken and noodles and prime rib and ice cream all day long, every day, we canmake choices, healthy choices that will give our bodies what they need to function and be strong.

Thank you, God for helping us appreciate what we have. Help us make the decisions that are best for our physical and mental health. And thank you for ice cream, too.

By Gloria D. Stewart