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The Ministry of Healing
The practice of eating but two meals a day is generally found a
benefit to health; yet under some circumstances persons may require
a third meal. This should, however, if taken at all, be very light, and
of food most easily digested. “Crackers”—the English biscuit—or
zwieback, and fruit, or cereal coffee, are the foods best suited for
the evening meal.
Some are continually anxious lest their food, however simple
and healthful, may hurt them. To these let me say, Do not think that
your food will injure you; do not think about it at all. Eat according
to your best judgment; and when you have asked the Lord to bless
the food for the strengthening of your body, believe that He hears
your prayer, and be at rest.
Because principle requires us to discard those things that irritate
the stomach and impair health, we should remember that an impov-
erished diet produces poverty of the blood. Cases of disease most
difficult to cure result from this cause. The system is not sufficiently
nourished, and dyspepsia and general debility are the result. Those
who use such a diet are
“Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son
of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength,
and not for drunkenness!”
Ecclesiastes 10:17
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not always compelled by poverty to do so, but they choose it through
ignorance or negligence, or to carry out their erroneous ideas of
reform.
God is not honored when the body is neglected or abused and is
thus unfitted for His service. To care for the body by providing for it
food that is relishable and strengthening is one of the first duties of
the householder. It is far better to have less expensive clothing and
furniture than to stint the supply of food.
Some householders stint the family table in order to provide
expensive entertainment for visitors. This is unwise. In the enter-
tainment of guests there should be greater simplicity. Let the needs
of the family have first attention.
Unwise economy and artificial customs often prevent the exercise
of hospitality where it is needed and would be a blessing. The regular
supply of food for our tables should be such that the unexpected