Over the past year, as my health has deteriorated and I’ve become less active, I’ve gained two stones in weight. Whilst saying grace over extra food, I’ve been acknowledging to God that I’m eating for comfort. It was clear that I couldn’t go on like this indefinitely, and I knew the right time would eventually come to cut back. Meanwhile, I couldn’t even face getting weighed.
This situation started to change a couple of weeks ago, when I had to weigh myself so that staff at the anticoagulation clinic could calculate the dose for a drug-change. Since then I’ve lost half a stone, then plateaued, despite careful eating: weight loss is a big challenge at 70, in poor health, and with a very slow metabolism and no thyroid!
Meanwhile, today’s prayer came as a complete surprise – I think it’s the first time I’ve ever written about eating:
Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11; RSV).
A little is enough, Lord,
For you give me what I need,
So when I help myself to more,
I’m giving way to greed.
A little is enough, Lord,
For you give the right amount,
So when I help myself to more,
Please hold me to account.
A little is enough, Lord,
So please help me to say, “No”,
Then turn to you, the Bread of Life,
And tell you all my woe,
For food, alone, can’t comfort me,
So, when my way is rough,
Please help me, Lord, to come to you:
Your comfort is enough.
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:13; NLT).
References
Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough (Exodus 16:17-18; NLT).
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again” (John 6:35; NLT).
I will comfort those who mourn (Isaiah 57:18; NLT).
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4; NLT).
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28; NLT).