Nourished

Feeding our kids is what moms do.  It’s instinctive to provide what will sustain them and support their physical growth.  But, is there more?   Don’t we nourish our children in other ways?  Don’t we nourish their brains by reading to them and teaching them life skills?   And for those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, we learn that it’s important to feed our children spiritually.

Let me tell you a story about spiritual nourishment.

Momma had moved to our town to be closer.  She knew that it was a hardship for us to travel to her home two hours away every time she had a need.  She wanted to spend more time with us, invest in our daughter’s life, and remove that journey we were making more and more often.  We were thrilled to help her relocate, and I was more than grateful to have my best friend only four miles away.

And as old age would have it, illnesses became more frequent and more severe.  She broke her hip and stayed with us for the six months of recovery after surgery.  Within three years of living nearby, she began to suffer from kidney failure and congestive heart failure.  We welcomed her back into our guest room so I could attend to her needs.  At the time I was homeschooling our daughter and running my alterations business, but I was happy to care for her.  I wouldn’t have traded those days for anything.

My goal was always to get her back to her own little house so that she could be self-sufficient again.  That was very important to her.  She always said, “Two women in one house is one too many.”

I know that I took really good care of her physically by feeding her nutritious meals, making sure she had her medicine, and getting her to doctors’ appointments.  We had a lot of fun spending those days together, and she made a point of being as little trouble as possible.   Our special family time was the nourishment of her soul that she loved and craved the most.

I’d have to say I did a great job.

Momma was happy and comfortable, but there was something wrong that I couldn’t put my finger on.  Despite my attempts to care for her as best I could, she was failing in a way I didn’t recognize until it was almost too late.

I neglected to nourish her spiritually.

Momma was a prayer warrior and a Bible student.  I know that during those months she prayed incessantly, but I failed to offer her opportunities to “fill up” in ways she was accustomed, like church attendance, sermon broadcasts, and daily Bible reading.  I could have done better.  I regret now that I didn’t read the Word to her every day and pray with her.

As a mom I know that spiritual nourishment is a must as we raise our children in the faith.   I didn’t hold back from spending time reading and discussing the Bible with our daughter, but I watched my dear Momma wither spiritually before my eyes.

I just didn’t get it.

In reflection, I share this story as part warning and part encouragement.  No matter whom you are caring for, whether young or old, make sure to feed them.  I think taking care of the physical and social needs comes easiest because we are quick to communicate when we need food, water, rest, etc.  Nurturing another’s spirit is often more difficult.

How can we succeed?

It’s the simplest and most difficult of answers:  continually feed ourselves.

As I look back, I wasn’t being adequately fed.  I was the “Martha,” more concerned about the physical needs of those in my home than spending time with God.  My days were overly busy with what was on my “to-do” list.  In retrospect, I was withering spiritually myself, but was moving too fast to notice.

I’ve come to learn that “to nourish” takes on many meanings:  cherish, foster, strengthen, build up, and promote.  If this is our desire, then we must begin with ourselves.  We must spend time in God’s Word, as well as time in prayer and meditation.  We have to put ourselves under the “fountain” of the Living Water.  We can’t help someone else unless we invite the Holy Spirit to nourish us.  We can only pour out what we have received.

An empty vessel can’t share what it doesn’t have.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

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