Christmas season kindles treasured childhood reminiscence. Oozy feelings of undiluted love as I snuggled on the couch, enveloped in Mom’s heirloom afghan, suffused in the primal, amber-red glow of crackling timber, captivated by surreal, multi-hued petite lights, silvery tensile, and the scent of pine commingling with the aroma of freshly baked holiday goodies. My body tingled anticipating the arrival of jolly friends and family strung together like treasured holiday ornaments, decorating the house with delicious affection and joy, everyone eager for the Grandma’s prayer kicking off the abundant holiday dinner.
These ephemeral visions conjure humorous post-dinner negotiation for the Barcalounger, men folk napping, snoring with one eye open while watching the Detroit Lions, and the women folk ‘wired’ on caffeine and sugar, speed-talking as their tongues smoldered and swelled. Finally, there was the belt loosening competition, and subsequent bathroom marathon. “Hey, what are you readin’in there, War and Peace?”
With each family’s arrival, the 16 foot buffet table proliferated with time-honored foods like mashed potatoes oozing with heavy cream and butter, baked ham, roasted chicken, barn animal gravy, deviled eggs, sweet ‘taters feloniously assaulted with sugar and marshmallows, broccoli casserole with dried onion rings, green beans simmered hours with pork knuckles, psychedelic gelatin salads, yeast rolls with butter, cheese balls, pecan pies, cookies, candies, and, well the list is infinite, however, fresh vegetables were uninvited. Reflecting, I can’t recall anything resembling true nourishment. Actually everything was deliciously unhealthful, however we’ve become numbly oblivious these foods, in the end, like a rock star trashing a hotel room, trash our holy temple; Jesus’ abode. Happy Birthday!
I’m not trying to plop reindeer droppings into your Egg Nog, however, knowing your Holy Temple is God's earthly dwelling place, do you maintain an irreverent, slap-dash, careless, lackadaisical, "I am too busy to consider cooking healthier” attitude? Or might you consider being a more reverential steward this joyous season? Research reveals holiday food traditions damage the Temple, but we’ve blurred the notion food has nothing to do with poor health and that disease a just part of aging; God’s will. At 40, we’re considered old and ripe for late life disease.
Food has everything to do with personal stewardship and mental acuity. While celebrating Christ’s birth, our culture considers over-eating normal. Christians nowadays have forgotten they were charged at birth with the responsibility of stewarding their temple; God’s greatest creation, the only true home you’ll ever have. I refer to Corinthians 3:16 & 17. ‘Do you not understand that you are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy and sacred to Him; and so you, as His temple, are also holy’. Verily I sayeth that’s severeth, but it’s in the Good Book. Just like coveting and gluttony, we’ve selectively censored heavenly commands.
Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy! By replacing head hunger with the will of God ‘yule’ transfer the urge for foods that cause heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer for hungering and thirsting for righteousness and nutritional literacy. His message of faith, love, and compassion will challenge us in our strength and comfort us in our human weakness for un-holy food.
Want to know what I want for Christmas; for everyone to keep their money, pay their bills, and sit down together to enjoy a modest, wholesome, home cooked meal and enjoy being part of a family. I want to see people refuse to be manipulated by emotionally tinged commercials and 2 hour only sales. I want people to put aside greed and status seeking, and the love of all things material. Instead, I wish everyone would give each other warm hugs and be thankful for what they’ve got. I’m confident personal stewardship would be the perfect birthday gift.
Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year!
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