February 16, 2024
On the way to Japan my blog was down. Time to catch up.
I was raised in a tradition where our family “said grace” before we ate meals. I can still remember the simple blessing: “Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
On a cruise ship there are many opportunities to have meals in a public setting. I am surprised how few people offer a blessing before their meal. On rare occasion, when I lift my head I will note a fellow passenger give me a nod as if to say: “we’re on the same team”. But, generally, folks just dive into their food. The serving staff are polite. They typically won’t pour water if they see you are offering a blessing, but I think that is corporate policy more than anything else.
It has always come naturally to me to be thankful for the food in front of me. The number of people affected by hunger globally rose to 828 million in 2023, an increase of 46 million since 2020. This does not include 150 million that were affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations reports that they are further away than ever to ending hunger worldwide. With such startling numbers why wouldn’t I think of being grateful on a cruise ship, especially when so much of the plates seem to be picked up half eaten.
But as a health care provider there are some other reasons why I know you should be grateful for every meal.
- Anti-toxins that inhibit the progression of disease and prevent the invasion of germs are created.
- Antiseptic ingredients that contain anticeptin are created, an ingredient that inhibits food in the stomach from swelling or fermenting.
- An overall improvement in immune function. (John Jawen, MD)
So the next time you sit down for a meal why not eat with gratitude.
Just give it a try.
Your stomach will be happy you did.
Thanks for travelling with us…
