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The Ministry of Healing
many the faintness is interpreted as a demand for more food; so
instead of giving the stomach rest, another burden is placed upon it.
As a consequence the digestive organs are often worn out when they
should be capable of doing good work.
We should not provide for the Sabbath a more liberal supply or
a greater variety of food than for other days. Instead of this the food
should be more simple, and less should be eaten in order that the
mind may be clear and vigorous to comprehend spiritual things. A
clogged stomach means a clogged brain. The most precious words
may be heard and not appreciated because the mind is confused by
an improper diet. By overeating on the Sabbath, many do more than
they think to unfit themselves for receiving the benefit of its sacred
opportunities.
Cooking on the Sabbath should be avoided; but it is not therefore
necessary to eat cold food. In cold weather the food prepared the
day before should be heated. And let the meals, however simple,
be palatable and attractive. Especially in families where there are
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children, it is well, on the Sabbath, to provide something that will
be regarded as a treat, something the family do not have every day.
Where wrong habits of diet have been indulged, there should be
no delay in reform. When dyspepsia has resulted from abuse of the
stomach, efforts should be made carefully to preserve the remaining
strength of the vital forces by removing every overtaxing burden.
The stomach may never entirely recover health after long abuse;
but a proper course of diet will save further debility, and many will
recover more or less fully. It is not easy to prescribe rules that will
meet every case; but, with attention to right principles in eating,
great reforms may be made, and the cook need not be continually
toiling to tempt the appetite.
Abstemiousness in diet is rewarded with mental and moral vigor;
it also aids in the control of the passions. Overeating is especially
harmful to those who are sluggish in temperament; these should
eat sparingly and take plenty of physical exercise. There are men
and women of excellent natural ability who do not accomplish half
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what they might if they would exercise self-control in the denial of
appetite.
Many writers and speakers fail here. After eating heartily, they
give themselves to sedentary occupations, reading, study, or writing,