Meal Time Reflection

Proverbs 17:1 (NASB) “Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting with strife.”

What is it like at your dinner table? Do you even sit at the table together as a family? Sadly, most of us have gotten out of this amazing habit. Instead, we are eating either in front of the TV or at a computer. No real conversations with other people. How about the table when it is a holiday? When you are gathering family members for the day, or even just a few hours, what are the conversations like when it is time to eat? Do you sit down together at one big table, or at smaller ‘groupings’ of tables? Do you all just pick a spot and eat off your lap? What are the conversations that go on at these gatherings?

My husband and I experienced holiday gathers a bit different from each other. Yet, now as an adult, I can see where certain people gathered together, while others avoided “those conversations” with other people. I remember one of my first holidays while Hubby and I were dating. When he was driving me home, he made a comment, that this was the ‘quietest and most calm’ holiday he had ever experienced in his family. Sure, it could have been due to the lack of people there, but I believe it was due to the inner peace we all had with Jesus.

Something else I have learned about having a “peaceful/calm” meal since my weight loss surgery – stress and anxiety is NOT good for the digestion! It isn’t good for ANY of us! However, I am WAY more sensitive to it now with my baby tummy. It has made me wonder how many times I have had a meal, where the foods just didn’t go down like they should have, nor did my body get the nutrition is needed due to the inner turmoil going on. You see, we all have this little army inside of us, working and doing its job to make us function. When we do things as God designed, then our innards all work like a well-oiled machine. However, when we throw something off, it is like throwing a wrench in the mix! Not good! The little guys that normally attend to the blood flow say, are quickly pulled from their positions and have to go and fight in a different area of the body, to help ward off the problems from the additional acids coming from our stomach. Guess what happens?!?! The blood flow is left open and vulnerable to the attack of some other form of enemy. It is like this for our whole body. Each body part has a certain ‘job’ and ways it is to function. When we either force ourselves to eat or keep eating through the pain and suffering, our body is working double the time at half the strength. Something is bound to go wrong.

Ok, if you don’t believe me, try this. Next time it is time for a ‘meal/snack’ get away to a quiet place. Inside or outside, doesn’t matter. Just get alone for at least 20 minutes. (in your car, in a bathroom, in a closet or another room in the building/house…) Now, while you are sitting there, about to eat – ask God to allow the Holy Spirit to allow you this time to reflect on what you are eating and how your body is responding. Ask your Heavenly Father to bless the time you are about to have with Him and the food you are about to eat. Now set the timer on your phone for the amount of time you have to sit here and be still. Next, be mindful of each bite. What does is smell like? What type of texture is it? How many times can you chew a bite? What are you ‘feeling’ as you are alone and away? Quiet your mind. All of the “work” will still be there in 20 minutes, I guarantee it LOL Breathe. Be still. Enjoy the peace and calm. Pay attention to the small voice from God as you separate yourself from any stress, drama, chaos going on around you. Perhaps you need to close your eyes while you sit there in order to relax and be calm. Maybe you need to just ‘slow down’ in everything: mind, thoughts, actions, chewing, sipping… It is hard, I know, but now you need to breathe BETWEEN bites! Yes, put the fork, spoon, wrap, bun or whatever DOWN between bites. That way you can fully chew, enjoy, and process what is going on while you are eating. Your body will now be able to do all of its job in each area as it was designed to do.

When your timer goes off, and it is time to return to reality – guess what? You will be able to think better, work better, and be present in where you are better. We NEED to take breaks from our ‘work’ – get away and be calm. Yes, even if you are a person that works from home – or works in the home, you NEED breaks! Especially when we are going to eat. I want you to compare this eating experience with one I’m sure you have had before. One where the topic of conversation is tense, heated even. Or the environment is full of chaos and strife. How did you eat? What did your body do? I can tell you one thing for sure – your body was reacting as it would in the middle of a battle in a full-on war! You probably had all sorts of bells and whistles going off, but you chose to stay there in the middle of that moment, and continue to ‘force’ yourself to eat. I bet it was like each bite was racing against a clock, and speed was the winner. That food coming in was not being processed as it should have been due to the ‘stress’ going on. If I’m right, you probably experienced some indigestion. Maybe even some gas. You felt drained perhaps even sleepy after eating. Your neck or shoulders may have been tight. Your stomach created way more acids than actually needed to digest your food, and it had to go somewhere.

God designed us to need Him. His peace. His comfort. When we rush through our day and our meals, or we sit in the middle of conflict – our insides have to fight in ways they were not actually designed to. What can we do, if we are in a place or position that we can’t fully control what is going on around us? A couple of things: 1) pray for God’s guidance, strength, and a way of escape from it! 2) if possible, you can get up and excuse yourself to attend to something. 3) see if what is going on, can be put on “hold/pause” conversation wise, for about 20 minutes, so that everyone can have a moment to eat and not have stress. Yes, this means speaking up and possibly being an outcast. If that happens, then you can excuse yourself to go to the restroom, and go somewhere else for 20 minutes. You do NOT have to STAY in an unsafe place. You have a choice. Well, most of the time we do ;-)  Gods desire and plan for us, is to want to spend time with Him, get alone and be with Him – I know, that is not always possible. However, even if you cannot get away physically, you CAN get away mentally. In your mind’s eye, you can 'unplug' and go to a special relaxing place, and just breathe if need be.

My prayer for you today, is that you can experience peace and calm at each meal/snack you have today. So your body can do what it was designed to do – process your food and spread the nourishment where it needs to go. Without any road-blocks or speed bumps. I pray that you can have a special meal with Jesus, and just get away for a little bit. I pray for your refreshing of your mind, body and soul as you step away and enjoy this time with Him. I’m praying for you to find peace with Him. Be well my friend. Be safe. And I pray for BIG blessings to come your way today!