I’ve always loved eating but there are certain things that my body starts to crave if I deprive it of good food. Often times I’ll just grab a quick fix through the drive thru of a fast food restaurant or I’ll fill up on junk food. It fills me up with empty calories and I’m not satisfied. I’m not satisfied with my meal until I include veggies in my diet.
Now, when I was a kid there were certain vegetables that I detested. Asparagus and brussel sprouts were on my least wanted list. When my mom put those veggies on my plate, I had to scheme of ways to remove them from my plate other than putting them in my mouth. My mom expected a clean plate at the end of a meal. She would look at me and say, “Now eat your veggies, they are good for you.” I disagreed, so when she turned her back I conveniently unfolded my napkin and quickly slid the veggies onto the thin paper. Then I’d grab another to wipe my mouth and cover the veggies with that napkin, ball it up and throw it into the trash in one quick sweep. She’d turn around and smile and tell me that I did good, until she caught me. Then I had to figure out other methods of not eating my veggies.
I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older that I do that a lot with things that are really good for me. Instead of embracing things that are healthy for my body, I’ll look for a quick fix instead or a way to just push it away for awhile. That happens with my spiritual life too. I’ll get busy and don’t take time to pray or read the bible. I run out of time or don’t make time to do what my body needs me to do. I’ll read a quick devotion and expect that to fill me, but then I walk around feeling empty. Then I’ll finally slow down, sit down and savor the word. When I do that I get satisfied, not just filled up. God does that a lot with me on all aspects of my life. I’ll sit at His table and He’ll put a plate before me. I’ll look down at the plate and see some things that I question Him on. “I don’t know, that doesn’t look very good to me,” I’ll think. God looks at me and says, “It’s good for you, eat it.” I’ll slowly put it in my mouth and chew. Sometimes it may not taste the best going down, but in the end it helps my body function better. Other times I taste it and immediately my opinion is changed. I see that you can’t judge a veggie by what it looks like on your plate.
Those veggies may not look appealing but they give you the vitamins your body needs. So remember, don’t snarl your nose up at what doesn’t look good in your eyes because oftentimes that’s exactly what the body needs to survive and thrive.
“Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them. For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9 NLV
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