After surviving a meager liquid diet and the unpleasant prep day for a screening colonoscopy, what’s a gal’s natural choice for a first meal on soft diet? For this gal, it was a chocolate shake.
Sure tasted good after Monday’s fare of 7UP, jello, and chicken broth. Sorry to say, though, my smile didn’t last long. The whole colonoscopy process did quite a number on my system, and I’m still having trouble eating today. I’m probably one of the few who has problems after this procedure, but if there’s a “rare” category, count on me to fall into it :)
I had planned on writing about “Food, Glorious Food” today — you know, because I would be starving and everything would taste so good, but my experience just hasn’t panned out that way. Food hasn’t gotten glorious for me yet this week, but I know it’s coming. Soon (I hope) my system will get back to normal, and I’ll want to eat everything in sight.
Thankfully, I’ll have that opportunity. Food is plentiful in the good ole USA, and Don and I are fortunate enough to be able to buy all the groceries we want. I can’t help but think of those who are hungry on a daily basis — not just because of a medical procedure that puts the brakes on the food train for awhile, but because of famine or lack of money to buy available food.
I haven’t enjoyed getting a headache from hunger or growing weak because of lack of nourishment, but I know it’s a temporary problem. What about those who see no end in sight, who never get enough to satisfy their empty stomachs? I’ve got to be honest. I can’t fathom what that must be like. I’ve never come close to experiencing ongoing hunger.
When we think of the hungry, we usually think of those in faraway places like Africa, but poor and hungry people can be found right here in our nation as well. Maybe neighbors in our own community. What are we to do? How are we to respond? Scripture tells us to “Rescue the weak and needy” (Psalm 82:4a NIV) and to “…continue to remember the poor…” (Galations 2:10 NIV).
How can we as individuals alleviate a need that is so vast? It can be something as simple as giving food to a local food pantry or as far-reaching as sponsoring a needy child through an organization like Compassion International. Maybe a contribution to a food crisis fund would help you feel like your gift was going where it was most needed. Compassion, in fact, has such a fund featured right now on its home page.
Compassion is just one organization that reaches out to the poor and hungry. What other avenues for helping them do you have personal knowledge about? Let’s share our ideas. Maybe someone will be helped. Maybe my cry of “Food, glorious food!” will ring out someday soon from someone who is truly hungry.
There are several local food banks in my neck of the woods. It’s my great privilege & joy to contribute regularly to one of them. The folks there tell me that this summer was their busiest yet. Record numbers of people are coming to ask for food for their families. What a privilege to be able to contribute instead of being forced to ask for help!
Jean
http://www.blogspot.com
Hi Cheryl, your diet sounds like my father’s diet last week. He did mention bad chicken broth was way better than bad beef broth at the hospital.
Hope all is well with you.
I gave my blog a summer make over, it was 103 and I was avoiding going outside in a big way.
I am already planning a fall make over…
Jean, how right you are about the privilege and blessing of being able to give to others. Too many times we take our blessings for granted.
Annette, I am finally feeling much better today. No huge appetite yet but at least eating regular food now. I’ll be watching for your fall makeover!
If you’ve ever struggled to fill the cabinets, it’s painful to go to WalMart where you recognize the haves and the have nots–those who can fill their baskets to the top and pay for the items needed, as well as luxury items such as ice cream or soda. Thanks for the reminder to fill the food pantries of our churches and organizations that help those in need.
Hey Suzie, thanks for stopping by! Thanks also for the reminder that things like ice cream and soda are really luxuries. That’s easy to forget when they’re more like staples in a lot of homes — like ours, I must admit. Of course, it helps the ole food budget now that we’re not feeding teenagers! :)
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Thanks for another great post, Cheryl!
Oh! P.S. – I hope you are feeling better!
I hope your digestive system gets in order soon. Until then, I love your positive outlook and compassion for those truly starving. We’ve been giving to Compassion International for years. What a great organization.
Blessings,
Nancy
Renae & Nancy, thanks for your well wishes. I feel pretty much back to normal now. Yeah! :)
Renae, thanks so much for sharing the scripture from James, and Nancy, so good to hear that your are another supporter of Compassion!