Using Food To Heal

Tonight was a Fish Fry.

It’s not a Friday and I’m not Catholic. To be quite honest, I don’t know how to explain what I am anymore. I don’t like the term “Christian” because it’s been overtaken by a façade that lends itself to more of a pop culture lifestyle.

I am a dependent of Jesus Christ. I am so deeply dependent on my Savior, that when everything goes wrong, I just assume that this is the way it’s supposed to be because His ways are far too wonderful for me to understand. It’s a good thing I read all the way to the end of Job because we’d probably be having a much different conversation if I stopped before the 38th chapter.

Today’s fish fry was after another disappointing court date. It’s been 6 months since we got the call that is every man’s nightmare. And I’m sure some smartass would disagree with me and say that he believes all women regardless if they’re accusing him of something he knows he didn't do. eye roll

In the past 6 months, my husband and I have lost more than half of our income, we have given up trips that were planned 8 months ahead of time, we were unable to celebrate our first marriage anniversary, we have lost opportunities to improve our life, missed out on friends’ birthdays, we haven’t even been able to travel into the mountains - which is basically Colorado’s only redeeming factor at this point. All because a girl told a lie.

And before even taking a statement from my husband, the DA had already approved a warrant for his arrest. Because when you are brown and a white girl accuses you of something, innocent until proven guilty is no longer a standard.

So tonight we fried catfish.

Nothing as grand as what they do in Louisiana. There were no hushpuppies (who has the energy for hushpuppies these days?), it was simply fried catfish and shrimp with some green beans. But it healed my heart, if only for a moment.

I have a family that I get to eat home cooked food with, on the back patio of a home that we are fortunate to be paying a mortgage on, instead of renting. And I praise God for it. Because this side of eternity is the only chance I get to praise through adversity.

This time in my life is maybe the most adversity I’ve ever endured. But God is still good. And I’m going to prove it to you…just wait.