Abuse. Violence. Hurting people. Sex trafficking. Starving children. Neglect. Guilt. Fear. Hopelessness. Depression. The lost.
In light of all the yuck in the world, I had to ask myself recently: Does talking so much about eating healthy food really even matter? Is it worth all the attention we’re giving it? Isn’t God bigger than a free range chicken anyway? Why all this focus on what we should and should not be eating?
These are the thoughts that came to me a few nights ago while Matt and I were having a heartbreaking discussion about some friends with a broken marriage. Splintered families make talk of cultured raw dairy products and homemade beef stock seem trivial and downright pointless. Why focus on this real food thing? Why spend time writing to encourage us to eat vegetables when children are hurting and people need Jesus?
I don’t even know. Real food matters. But it doesn’t really even matter.
Here’s why it matters: Because God calls us to take care of our bodies, His temple. It matters because if we aren’t healthy, we can’t serve – plain and simple. I can’t even think straight when I’m eating too much sugar and junk. My brain becomes cloudy and I accomplish nothing when I’m not eating right. Real food matters because I need nourishment in order to be what God calls me to be.
But I need real food to be in the background of my life – not as my main focus. Eating fruits and vegetables and healthy protein and good fats need to be a habit we live by, not an idol we worship.
God is bigger than all of the multi-vitamin supplements, the whole food recipes, and the debates over saturated fat. There are hurting people out there who wish we would stop arguing already about what causes high cholesterol so that we can instead come offer them the love they so desperately need.
I’m going to keep eating butter and coconut oil. I’ll keep pushing the fruits and vegetables, and yep, I’ll even keep making and drinking raw cultured dairy products. I’ll go so far as to continue to encourage you to do the same. Because it matters.
But our relationship with the Savior and with others matters more. If I’m so focused on preparing and serving the best of the best that I lose sight of those God has called me to love – then it seems that I’ve forgotten what really matters.
Does real food matter? Yes, no, definitely, sort of, maybe, and who really cares? I believe God calls us to a higher focus. One that involves laying our lives down for Him, taking up our cross, and loving as Jesus loves. Real food is simply a tool He’s given us to make us the best we can be for Him.
And that’s what really matters.
Tara says
Amen, I Totally Agree.
Emily says
I love you and this is a major reason why! You can see the big picture and you always land on what really matters. Thank you for your heart!
Deanna says
Laura, thank you so much for this. It is so true. So often it’s hard to keep the big picture in mind of what matters most and this was a great reminder.
Shaela says
It does matter, for our future generations!
Kim says
Thank you Laura! I agree! Because our bodies are the temple of God we should take care of them! My kids eat more fruits & veggies than any kids I know but I still have a long ways to go on this journey if healthier eating! Thanks for your encouragement and yummy recipes!!
Hanneke says
Amen!!
Tara H says
Perfectly said!
Fletcher R. says
Thank you, Laura. You summed it up perfectly.
Meghan says
You are such a wise woman. Thank you for this post! I admire you for so many reasons.
Rebecca Haughn says
I heard one time in my life and have taken hold of it, eat like you in The Garden. Of course I eat o other things, the garden is what I eat most of. Man made things are not nutritious as a whole and also have read in the Bible that God can make poison inert. not sure where that scripture is, I try not to test it though. Just trust that God will manage all I try to follow him with. Thank you for blogging, I look forward to each entry.
aprile says
I love your comments. Thank you.
Julie says
Amen sister! Well said!!
holly says
Laura, I have been reading for years and never commented. I want to say that this is Godly wisdom for all and I think this is your best post yet! Thank you for speaking truth.
Denise says
BEAUTIFULLY said!
Heather D. says
Thinking the exact same thing last night and had that discussion with my hubby too. Keep doing what you know is good for your health and don’t give up, but keep the main things in the forefront – loving Jesus and others, (as well as having enough margin in life to enjoy family life and not rushing everywhere…) Thank you for continuing to share on Many topics, including but not limited to food!
Patty says
I totally get this!
Nicole says
I hope all your fellow real food bloggers have a look at this and take it to heart. And thanks from ALL of us! God bless.
Beth says
Thank you. This gelled what has been swirling around in my head lately.
Susan F. says
God bless you Laura. I understand.
Ellen says
This really blessed me…thank you!
Pam says
Thank you for this post, what you said is so true about being there to love others and not making food an idol. I believe this. Real food IS so important in that process!!!! Yesterday was my mom’s birthday… but she died when I was 17 so I could not celebrate it with her. My mother was an amazing woman but had a problem with anxiety. She cooked wonderful food for us but lived off of coffee and cigarettes and never really ate it herself. She died of colon cancer. It was horrible to watch. Please know how important your blog is. We can get to focused on organics etc. sometimes and we shouldn’t. But if we don’t eat healthy real food we are harming ourselves and those we love as well. I pray the Lord heals your friend’s heart/family. I also thank the Lord for this blog. It is also keeping families together!!!! Be blessed:)
Susan says
I snatched up one of those cast iron pots so fast it was a blur – phenomenal price.
Thank you for your excellent thoughts on the value of nutrition/food. This has been on my mind much lately, as I’m focusing on reversing my Hashimoto’s, lowering blood glucose, lowering insulin, etc. through diet. I’m on an autoimmune protocol for a minimum of 30 days. This necessitates much reading, thinking about food, and planning, purchasing food. I need whole, organic, non GMO, etc. Sigh. Right now my life is all about FOOD. I have to remind myself that while intense healing requires such a heavy focus, it will not always be this way. I don’t like this out-of-balance food/self preoccupation.
brooke says
very nicely said, i agree 100% :)
Jayd says
amen.
Rebecca says
I love your blog, and I love your big picture perspective. We (I) long to be already neck-deep in real food living, but after two years I’ve only made a few changes that I’ve consistently stuck to. There are usually just excuses, but sometimes some really good reasons why this is so. For example, I sit here typing this as I recover from having my 7th child and my 1st C-section. Church family and relatives are being great at bringing us all kinds of food, but none that would “qualify” for real food. Do I care right now? NO! I’m grateful for the help.
I’ve saved all your “31 Day” series posts to go back through and start to make major changes more quickly. But, thank you for always thinking beyond food to our spiritual lives and the world around us.
Denise says
I just wanted to say thank you for this post. We have a group of young moms in our church and it is suppose to be a place that speaks words of life and encouragement, but lately has been moms bashing other moms for their decisions. Personally, I do give my family whole foods, but I intentionally watch my words around moms that don’t to make sure they never feel inadequate. I have been talking with some of them (as I am a little older than most of them…I have teens) about this issue and wanting them to realize that most moms really want the best for their children and are making the best choices they know to make. If we want to “help” we should offer words of encouragement not beat them down because they don’t do what we do with food, shots, breastfeeding, etc. There is so much God could use us to accomplish if we love one another as Christ loves us. All that to say…I really like how you worded some of that and I will be using your words as an example to them in the future. Thank you….for being real. That is my favorite compliment to give and receive. :-)
Ginger says
Well said, Laura! When reaching out to serve people, I would like to think that my brain is properly nourished, so as to respond to their need with God’s memorized Word rather than my worthless opinion. A nutritionally-starved brain does not have great recall. Thank you for keeping the main thing the main thing…Matthew 6:33