Social Etiquette & Food Choices

For some time I've struggled with food issues.  One of my challenges is that I've found that it can be challenging for me to make healthy food choices on an ongoing basis if I, even occasionally, eat foods that I've found to be less than helpful for my body system.  And yet, what to do when I'm in a social setting?  Eating out with friends?  Or even being a guest in someone's home?  

In a social setting, I hate to say anything about special dietary issues because I hate to make extra trouble for my hosts or make them feel I don't appreciate what they've done in preparing a meal.  I also don't want to be excluded from social events because people don't want to deal with my food sensitivities - especially since many people would see my diet as quite restrictive and wouldn't have a clue how to handle it!  After all, relationships are more important than food!

It's been an on-going challenge - one I've faced mostly internally.  I kept remembering the story in Acts chapter 10 about Peter's vision about the unclean meat.  He was told, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."  While I knew that for Peter, this vision was actually talking about the "unclean" gentiles, I also felt this story indicated that with prayer, I should be able to eat anything and not have it adversely affect me - especially when coupled with Luke 10:10 - "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." (NIV)

Recently, however, I was brought to a different story.  One I've heard since I was a child, but didn't absorb the full significance.  That is the story told in Daniel 1:8-16.  I've always seen this story as a lesson that a plant-based diet can be superior to one that is based in rich "delicacies", but I completely ignored the fact that Daniel ASKED that he and his friends be given a different meal than the other people were being given!  Now, this was an on-going situation and not a one-time thing, but it really struck me.  Daniel asked to be fed differently.  This realization has helped me both to feel better about choosing to eat differently than the "norm", and to feel less uncomfortable about saying something about it.  I still want to pray about each situation, but am more open to a wider range of responses.  Thank you, Father!

I was faced with a related dilemma again this weekend.  My husband's aunt is in an assisted living situation.  The facility had a special "Valentine's" meal where the residents were encouraged to invite family to join them for lunch.  So, this aunt asked my husband and me to join her.  It turned out to be quite challenging food-wise. The main food that I could eat was the appetizer salad.  Our aunt noticed I wasn't eating much and questioned me about it. I knew that she knew my dietary choices and would understand that the food in front of me did not meet those criteria, so what should I say?  I knew she wasn't particularly happy with the meal either, but she really had little choice.  She lived there!  I didn't want to make her feel any worse about things.  But the fact remained.  I REALLY couldn't eat much of what was in front of me!  

It was a lesson I continue to ponder and pray about. I want to understand all that God had for me to learn in that situation.  One of the questions I'm sitting with after my experience yesterday is, "what I can do to help improve our aunt's experience."  My heart hurts for her.  She's faced many changes that she didn't WANT, and is in a situation that isn't ideal.

Father, what is your will concerning her?  What is my part to play?

Father, this day I once again seek your guidance in my life.  May each thought, word, and action be in accordance with your will!  May I not only gain increased clarity on HOW best to eat, but also WHEN and WHAT to say about it to others, and WHEN I need to just eat what is put before me, trusting you to protect me.  Father, I know this lesson goes beyond physical food. 

I think of a couple passages in 1 Corinthians: 

• "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."  1 Cor 6:12

• "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not." 1 Cor 10:23

It's clear to me that I need to make sure my focus is on what is BEST, not what I can get away with!  While it may be true that I can get away with eating certain things - whether we're talking about physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual - that doesn't necessarily mean it's best.  God wants the BEST for me.  Shouldn't I support Him in that endeavor?  Likewise, I know God wants the very best for our aunt, and I want to support Him in that endeavor as well.

Father, may I be willing to learn from you about what is BEST for me.  May I be open to whatever changes may be necessary in the physical, emotion, mental, and spiritual parts of my being.  Thank you for wanting the very best for me.  May I cooperate with you on that.  And may I also recognize how I can facilitate that for others and be willing to follow through with the tasks you place before me.  Thank you, Father!

Forgive - and Comfort?!

As you may have noticed, it's been too long since I posted here.  I wanted to wait until I had another Bible journaling piece to share.  But I have haven't managed to do another one yet, and I was reminded today that I can post without one.  After all, that's the way I did this blog for quite awhile.  So, that is what I'll do - and when I do an artistic piece, you'll see that too.  

There have been many things in the last several months that I wanted to journal about, and I realize now, how much I've missed by not posting about them even though I didn't have an artistic piece to go with the message.  This morning I find my mind going back to one verse in particular.  This particular verse made a real impression because I saw something in it that I'd never seen before.  In fact, that new idea was presented on a main-stream talk show of all places in the last week!  It made such an impression on me that I had to go look it up and spend some time pondering it.

It was a verse that spoke about forgiving others and is found in 2 Corinthians 2:7.  Paul is speaking to the people of Corinth about someone who has caused an offense of some sort and tells them that they need to both forgive AND comfort him!

While I might not yet have a complete understanding, I've certainly understood the importance of forgiveness for some time - but that little one-word addition really made me stop & think.  Not only are we to forgive those that harm us, but to comfort them as well?!!!  What a thought!  Isn't the injured party the one that needs the comfort? We're to comfort the one who caused the damage?

That's what it says, isn't it?  As I think about it more, I can see a more mundane experience where I can fully understand this.  For instance, if someone breaks something of mine, they may feel really badly about it.  I may need to comfort them & tell them it's all right.  I know I'll be much happier if I behave in this way rather than getting all upset about the loss of some material possession.

But I have a feeling that this idea is meant to go much farther than that.  After all, I know if I accidentally broke something that belonged to someone else, I'd appreciate the forgiveness and comfort.  But if I hurt someone's spirit or caused harm to a person in some way, I'd want that forgiveness & comfort even more!

I am reminded - "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matt 10:8)  I am SO grateful for the forgiveness and comfort that God freely gives me!   

Father, whom is it that I need to forgive and comfort today?  May I be an open channel for you and your forgiving love to flow through to those I meet this day.  Thank you, Father!  Thank you for your forgiving love and your comfort.  I know I don't deserve it, and too often I still even take it for granted.  Father, I DO love and appreciate you.  Your love is amazing and I choose to be a channel for that love to flow through.  Thank you for the blessings I know this day will bring.  You are an amazing God and I am SO grateful for your love - for your forgiveness and comfort.  I love you, Father!