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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Potluck (Meal or Gathering) Deadline 7-26-12 @ 10 AM NY Time (07/19/12)
Just One Bite



Food always seems to be involved in our lives. Looking back on the first Americans who came to this country. They had very little food left after the voyage over and it was the Native Americans who showed them how to survive off the food God Provided from the land. To celebrate that first year they held a feast of thanks giving and invited their neighbors the Native Americans. They held the first potluck in America.
It seems from that time on food has been a very social event for people. A time of gathering, sharing ideas, catching up on the events in the lives of friends. Just the mere act of sharing food with another person makes us feel closer somehow.

I did not realize how social until my husband became ill with pancreatitis. He was fed with a tube for nearly 4 years.
We use to be invited to dinners with friends, but it made our friends and family uncomfortable to be eating while my husband could only watch. My husband knew that even though he couldn’t eat, I needed the company of others.
We would go to church potlucks and everyone was very amazed when my husband would help fill plates for those who were unable to stand in the line. Often he would even help serve the food so someone else could spend time visiting with friends.

Even I often found it hard sometimes to go to restaurants for meals with him during this time because the wait staff had a hard time believing he couldn’t eat anything, he couldn’t even have a glass of water.
He would often try to put people at ease telling them it wasn’t his turn to eat, and then smile widely at them to put them at ease.

God often gives us trials that we often think we will never survive, but he walks with us as we go through them. I know there was many times God saved us from wrong choices about ways to help my husband be able to eat. At those times we were often afraid we had passed up his only chance, only to be shown by God that the procedures would have cause him more harm than good.

Time has passed and the hard part of the trial is over, my husband can again enjoy the taste of food. Sometimes what he can eat is limited, but each time I see him take a bite of food I remember the first time after 4 years of not eating, his first food was salt free, clear chicken broth while I had chicken noodle soup. His first comment was “wow I forgot how good food could taste!” I thought that has no taste that I remember, so I sampled some for myself hoping to experience some of his enjoyment, only to find it tasteless.

It is amazing the wonders God brings us through our senses. It is still a great pleasure to watch my husband sample the variety of food at potlucks, while savoring the flavors and very much enjoy the company of others again without the apprehension on their faces of eating in front of someone who can’t eat.
Thank you God for loving us!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Laura Manley
07/26/12
What a sweet, sweet story which covered the topic at hand, yet helped the reader to understand your husband's plight when it came to the issue of food. God promised He never will give us more than we can bear, and apparently that is true in your husband's case, as well as you. Be sure to give proper reverence to God when you reference Him with a capital "H." Other than that, I thought your story was very well presented.
C D Swanson 
07/27/12
Oh my dear friend in Christ. This was such a touching story...it spoke to my heart.

How wonderful that your hubby wanted to continue to be with people. And, you both obviously never lost faith.

This was a beautifully written story and I am honored you shared it with us. Thank you. I am so glad your hubby is better now.

And, Praise God how He brought you both through this ordeal.

God Bless you~
Connie K Cameron
07/30/12
This story brought me to tears. My family is going through a hard time and just to hear someone else has made it through a tough time was so comforting. Thank you!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
07/30/12
This is a lovely and heart stirring story. I suffer from chronic pain and am able to imagine how difficult it is for my husband to watch me suffer but not be able to help. Often we will read stories about the sick or those suffering chronic pain but I think it is equally important to see the side of the main caregiver or support person. I'll make sure I hug my husband extra hard tonight. You did a nice job of tackling the topic in a different and fresh way.