My Meal

I was ravenously hungry and they placed my meal in front of me, one look at the plate of food and I looked away. It repelled me and I was sure I would die if I took the tiniest bit, so I pushed the plate away from me. I signalled for the plate to be taken away but no one paid me any attention. I looked around me and everyone else seems to have the most delicious plate of food placed in front of them, they all tucked in and seem to be enjoying their food. I was drooling like a dog as I shamelessly stared at them eating, with my eyes I pleaded for some of their food, a bite, a taste maybe, l just longed for what they had, mine was inedible anyway. Their snobbery, rudeness and indifference did not deter me, I was that hungry any way. So I got up from my table and I walked over to their table and begged for some of their food. Some gave me crumbs, some told me to pick the bits that dropped on the table and the floor, others shoved me away roughly. I was angry, despondent, ashamed, embarrassed and still ravenously hungry, the crumbs created more of a longing.

I went back to my table, my meal was still there, cold and crusted over, grinning mischievously at me, teasing me to tuck in. This time I shouted out for the meal to be removed from my presence. Having heard my shout, someone walked over purposefully, my heart leapt with joy, he bent over with outstretched hands to pick the plate, at least that was what I thought, but the hands landed on my shoulder, he looked into my eyes and told me, ‘the meal that is prepared for you, you must eat’, hands off my shoulders, he turned round and walked away. I remembered my Mum and her mantra, she would tell us, ‘in this house if you don’t want to starve and die, whatever meal is placed in front of you, as long as it is not poisonous, you must eat’.

I sat quietly for what seem like eternity, allowing the hunger to travel well into every nook and crevices of my body and soul. I reasoned that it is either I sit there, do nothing, starve and die or eat the suspicous looking food and die. But maybe the food wouldn’t kill me. Slowly I lifted up my hand and beckoned, he came over and politely I asked for a glass of water. He dutifully brought the water and I thanked him. I reached out for my meal, carefully relieved it of the crust on top, said my grace and with each spoonful in my mouth, I washed it down with a gulp of water. Some mouthful tasted palatable, others not so much but with the water I was able to finish my meal. I felt strong, full and accomplished, the meal was not as bad as I thought after all. There were some chewy bits, but with the water I was able to down it. The table that was set before me, I was able to partake of. My meal I ate, my journey I went on, my destiny I fulfilled, my calling I accomplished, my project I finished and today I can say, it is all done and there is a crown of glory laid out for me.

Each and every one of us, have our own meal that life has prepared to fortify us for our journey, sometimes we look at the meal and we say ‘no, thank you’ other times we jump up for joy. Whatever plate is placed in front of us, is ours. The sooner we ask for that glass of water and tuck in, the sooner we fulfil our destiny. The water of patience, perseverance, discipline, grit, gratitude etc, basically the virtues are what we need to down the meal when the plate looks unappetizing.

The meal did not kill us, we lived to fulfil our destiny. Let us all stay in out lane, eat our own meal and give thanks for our lot in life.

It’s a good life!