"Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate." ~ Alan D. Wolfelt

Good morning and welcome to today's edition, on this, Monday, June 23, 2025. I had this thought that came to mind or I think that's how it happened, but, it had to do with what I know about how I became a Type 2 Diabetic 25 years ago. I was minding my own business. I went to the doctor because I had strained a muscle in my neck and shoulder. He said he wanted me to have a physical since I had not had one in a long time. Okay. Give it your best shot. He called me and said, "Mr. Abbott I hate to inform you of this but you are a diabetic." My response was short and sweet, "No I am not!" He told me the blood tests were conclusive. I did all I could to immediately reverse this diagnosis. I took the meds. I lost forty pounds. Sadly, I was then and I am now, still a diabetic. How did this even become an issue for me? I've come to realize that I love food. I have loved food since I was a kid. I'm not talking about eating to live, but, rather in some respect, living to eat. I was crowned the good eating kid in our home. The lunch room workers gave me the same designation as I worked my way through school. Good Eater! Yay! And, what do I really love to eat? Not some fancy or exotic cuisine, just, plain old ordinary home cooked food. The photo above reflects this food love story of my life. Field peas, fried okra, corn on the cob, smothered steak over mashed potatoes, tomatoes, and a generous sprinkling of pepper sauce, yep, that's my story and I will have to stick to it because that is how I achieved this diabetic station in life. Don't get me wrong. I used to eat like that all the time, but, not anymore. Nope. Maybe once a quarter, maybe. Special occasions. That's okay. I continue to have the disease well controlled according to my latest blood work. How serious has my long love affair with food been? Just looking at that picture, well, instead of it saying a thousand words, I guess maybe to me it's saying a thousand memorable paragraphs. Let me quickly add how thankful I am for the doctors I have, the folks who have developed the wonderful drug therapies I'm able to use, and, the support of my family who, from old to young are primed to ask me this probing question: "Should you be eating that?" In the end, I still eat plenty, (as you can tell), but, not like I did in the old days and I can't say the good old days because the days God gives me now are good because He is good. Amen.

 

Some folks are glad about the bombing of the Iranian nuclear facilities. Others are sad. Still others are outraged. Since we believers in the Lord Jesus Christ take our cues from the Word of God, well, we see these things and know they are related to the conflicts spoken about regarding Israel and her neighbors, and, we do this: We trust in God. That's right. We trust in God. What about if more bad stuff happens? We trust in God. What about the Olivet Discourse in Matthew? What about the passages from the letters Paul wrote to the believers meeting in Thessalonica? What about the inspired and often calmitous texts written through the Apostle John on the island of Patmos in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ? They are all good texts and my response is this: We trust in God. Childlike? You betcha! Try it. It will make your life a lot more peaceful as we face uncertain times. Okay. I have to quit now because if I look at that food photo one more time I will have to wipe the drool off my keyboard. Just joking. A little. A very little. Have a great day and may God continue to bless us all is my prayer. Amen.