Food, Glorious Food

A ‘food family’ sees food as more than just something you need to consume to fulfil your daily nutrients count.

1 Kings 2.1-12

Reference: v.7  “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.  They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.” (NIV Bible)

Explore:  I come from a ‘food family’.  For those who don’t come from a ‘food family’, let me explain.  A ‘food family’ sees food as more than just something you need to consume to fulfil your daily nutrients count.  Food is something that gives great pleasure, it is something that gets you through the day, it is a pivotal element in celebrations and it is the special reward given to those deserving.  When catering, my family works on the basis that there is only enough food when you can feed the whole nation of Malawi!  Needless to say my Mum is an awesome cook and we are all constantly on diets.
It’s makes sense to me that food even referred to in the Bible as a powerful expression of acceptance and friendship.  When King David was on his death-bed he told his son Solomon, who was to take over his throne, to show kindness by ‘letting them be among those who eat at your table.’

Application:  Unfortunately today there is not enough emphasis on families to eat meals together around a table… without the TV on!  We are considered ‘old fashioned’ when we enforce this ritual every evening.  I must say that we do not always have riveting conversation, there is not always a new revelation discovered about a family member and sometimes the food I have made is so amazing that no one speaks out of reverence to my sensational culinary delights (ok, so this may only have happened once!).  Life will continue to get busy and we will always be pushed to do more and be more.  However we must remember to stop every now and again and just ‘be’ with those near and dear to us.  We don’t have to cook up a 5-course dinner party, it’s just allowing a connection to happen between friends and family.

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for creating food.  It gives so much pleasure and is a great tool in which we can unite people together.  May I continually be prompted to open my table to those around me.  Amen.

What restricts you from spending regular time with friends and family?

1 Kings