Feed Them

The last week before my wedding day,  my mother gave me some wise advice: "Make sure you feed him. His meals need to be regular, and good food." I thought it was funny at the time, but I was young and sometimes skipped meals myself. She was right to remind me.

Through the years, I've heard this over and over again: "The only place I can cut costs is on food. I don't know how I can cut more." One woman even told me her large family had been eating soup for a month.

Now, I am all for budgeting, for buying at reduced costs, storing up for the future, and being good stewards of missions money. I am also for buying fresh foods (if possible) and preparing nutritious meals.

What are you feeding your family? Are you giving them the best? Or are you skimping on food? I'm not talking about serving filet mignon every dinner. I am, though, referring to making nutritious—even if simple—meals to your family. There are lots of things you can do with rice, noodles, potatoes, yucca, tortillas, etc. in order to fill up (or at least try to) even the fastest-growing teenager. Look for fresh fruits and veggies on your field. Get acquainted with markets and the discount corners in your supermarket. (You can freeze it, if you have electricity.) It's okay to use substitutes for meat sometimes: lentils, chickpeas, beans, etc. Do your homework about nutrition and find out what works on your field. Watch what the natives eat. See how you can incorporate their protein sources into your own cooking. (Bugs, anyone? I am kidding!)

Plan for variety. Even if only one meat is easily accessible—for example, chicken—you can prepare it in a million different ways: roasted, pulled, barbequed, fajitas, grilled, Southern fried, braised, baked, Asian style, in casseroles, etc. Don't get into a rut. (If you need inspiration, go to Pinterest.)

Just as you don't want your family to be 

famished spiritually, you don't want them 

to go without physically.

Why is this important?

God promises to provide the food you need. Take Him at His Word. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:31-33). Depend upon His goodness. Don't scrimp on food. If you need to cut back on spending, it's better to cut elsewhere. Yes, watch for sales and deals, but feed your family. If you're single, this is important for you, too. Take care of your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Good nutrition is vital for your family's health. If you don't know how to balance a diet, do some reading. Take everything you read with several grains of salt, but after you read a while, you'll arrive at a sensible approach. Look for moderation. There are new, goofy fads every three years. Don't even read about those. Read about nutritional recommendations. Especially growing children need a balanced diet, but you do, too. Your husband needs energy (carbs), protein, good oils, veggies, and fruit. You need less carbs than he does, but you need some, also. If you're doubtful about what I'm saying, read your Bible. I'm serious. What did Jesus eat? (He made our bodies.) What did He provide for others? Study it. You'll be surprised! The Bible has the answer to everything—including food choices.

You can make family mealtime special. I understand meal chaos when you have a baby and a toddler, but they grow up fast. Set the table. Use napkins and manners. Place a plant or flower on the table. Expect the whole family at family meals. These become special times of eating, sharing, and laughter. There's something about mealtime and after-meal conversation that keeps a family together. The old Baptist saying for church socials, "food, fun, and fellowship," should apply as well to our family meals. Our family also had devotions immediately following the mid-day meal. That might work for you.

Does your family get regular food

—spiritually and physically?

Does your family get good food

—the Word of God and actual victuals?

Does your family enjoy eating

—spiritually and physically?

The Bible compares spiritual food to physical. It talks about milk for babies, solid food, and even steak. It's the progression for one's spiritual life—as he learns to "eat" spiritual food for himself and matures enough to eat spiritual meat.

Here are some New Testament parallels for you:

• Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (Matthew 24:45)
• But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people (Luke 9:13).
• Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).
• Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat (Acts 27:34, 36).
• I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able (1 Corinthians 3:2).
• Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
• Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness (2 Corinthians 9:10)
• For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Feed your family. Give them food, and also feed them spiritually. Make sure you grow spiritually yourself, so that you're mature enough to feed others.

God bless you!

Lou Ann Keiser, in Basque Spain