Throughout February, we’ve considered different ways to love people in a pandemic. We’ve talked about using our hands and using our time.

Let’s get to a universal favorite: Food.

I don’t have to tell you that food doesn’t just do good things for us. Good food also feels good! It can set a mood, restore hurt or pained feelings and bodies, and help us build relationships. Why is that?

A fascinating fact about food is that it engages all five of our senses. Think about it: we see bright colors and presentation, maybe accompanied by steam when it’s warm; we taste flavors; we touch rough or smooth textures and service utensils; we smell the aromas; and we hear the sizzle of cooking, the splitting of servings, and the sounds of the people around us. Eating is an all-encompassing experience!

While food engages our physical senses, it also communicates to our spirits. A shared meal speaks of generosity from the host and participants, the time, care, and resources spent, and the meeting of human needs for sustenance and fellowship. When we share a meal with others, we give and share not only food, but also ourselves.

Imagine if food came in the same color and texture, without flavor or scent. It would be offered strictly as fuel for the body, eaten at specific times of the day to meet specific needs. How boring would that be? We know – and thank God! – that this isn’t true in our world. If food did nothing but fuel our bodies, we wouldn’t get excited to have guests for a meal, try new recipes, or try old recipes again with more or less flair.

With this in mind, we must acknowledge that food presents a unique opportunity to love people. As we present food to others or partake with others, we share our culture, our tastes, our priorities, and our time. Food may feed our bodies, but it also feeds our spirit. When we are content rather than hungry, we have more freedom to share energy and lift up others. Therefore, when we meet others’ needs, we grant them life and empower them to do the same. How powerful is that?

At this point, if you’re anything like me, you might be getting hungry – both for good food and for good ideas! How can we participate in this powerful method of showing love?

• Cook a meal for a family member or friend. If they’re sick or give care to the elderly or children, make it as low-maintenance as possible. Casseroles contain almost everything in one dish and may also freeze well. If you want to help them avoid dishes, include paper plates or bowls.
• Send money to someone’s account to cover their coffee or lunch that day.
• Schedule a meal date. Set a time for a virtual meeting or meet in a parking lot to eat together. If you live in the same house but don’t see each other often, make a point to eat together sometime, or once a week for regularity.
• Ask for others’ favorite recipes. You can get a taste of what your people love, which can tell you a lot about them! (Make sure to share a photo of the finished product 😊)
• Shop to donate to a local food pantry. If we know how good it feels to enjoy and share food, then imagine how much better it must be when it’s hard to come by.

Food is something we all need. It builds our bodies and feeds our minds and hearts. It’s also shareable, enjoyable, and variable. It can come in many forms and communicate many things. As we interact with others over food, we build relationship. Why wouldn’t we want to spread some of that love, excitement, and relationship to other people?

Let’s go into the weekend thoughtfully as we consider our connection with food. How have you been loved through food? How can you love somebody through food this week?

Thanks for reading,

Rebekah