Eating Disordered Awareness, Post # 2

I went to help with SCC Summer Camp (Southpark Community Church) .... the kids program we're having.

I did not look at my manual ... and was a bit shocked to see the plan for tonight ... Picnic ....

The lesson ... just like we need food ...we need spiritual food.

The object lesson at the beginning ... we must eat to stay healthy ... and we must have daily spiritual needs met ...eating just once a week or twice a week ... you'd not feel good or stay healthy ... so why would that be ok for spiritual needs?

But the emphasis was on the balance of the two.

It of coarse, hit me far different than it would have hit most of the adults in there. I'm sure, our children's pastor had no idea that I was ready to bolt from the room ...

It took every ounce of self control to stay in my seat and make myself listen to the lesson.

My heart was broke, when 2 girls, pre teen aged (the oldest is 6th graders in the children's ministry, so they had to be 6th grade or below) made a comment to each other. The girls were asked how many had had a snack that day. The two girls raised their hands but looked at each other and said "I was bad"

My heart lept into my throat. Then, during the game, where they had food to eat, the two girls DID participate, but I watched the one girl take BITES off of a cheese cracker! She counted the bites as she chewed, I watched her fingers as they tapped off the bites.

It was amazing watching such a young child already participating in compulsive behaviors involving food ... and the realization that no one in her life is probably even aware ... SHE may not even be aware ... she may just be 'counting' and sorting her way through ...but if someone doesn't step in, an eating disorder is in her future.

I came to a realization a while back ...that God does not intend for food, eating or the things around it to be just a side issue ... he intended for us to
A) eat
B) eat together
C) enjoy food

He ordered the Isrealites to celebrate with food, to mourn with food ...and these celebrations and mourning ..were NATION wide ....

even the life and death of Christ, was to be remembered ...with food. (this do, in rememberance of me)

I did a search once on scriptures relating to food ... I'd honestly expected to get maybe ...100

my shock when (from Crosswalk.com) I found these numbers .... was to say the least ..astonished:

for EAT ... I found

Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 476 total results

for FOOD I found

Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 305 total results

for ATE I found


Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 102 total results

for EATING I found



Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 55 total results

for FEAST I found


Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 90 total results

for EATEN I found


Verse Search Results (New International Version)
RESULTS: 62 total results


and to end this diatribe ... I will end with a verse that includes "Celebrate" and "Eat"
Ne 8: 10 -12 - 10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.