Friday Food Story - The Meal Train

written by ~MAW Steve

There is nothing like a meal train.  You know, that train of meals that come to a person's home after a major life event like the birth of a child or the death of a loved one.  Casserole after casserole are prepared and dropped off by those who care to make life a little easier for those who are having to make big adjustments in their lives.  As a military spouse, I have had no shortage of opportunities to prepare meals for families.  I do it proudly.  I have several different go to meals that I can make.  Most of the time I include some cookies.  Who doesn't like cookies?

Last week, the occasion presented itself to prepare a meal for a family struggling through a difficult time.  A drunk driver slammed into a car driven by an 8 1/2 month pregnant friend.  After an emergency C-Section, and 4 days of the best medical care, the baby passed away.  The mother suffered some chipped vertebrae, and other injuries, but survived.  This child was her first baby, and she and her husband were super excited to become parents.  The impact this event had on the family, their church, and their community was evident from the moment the accident happened.  I love this family, and preparing a meal was the least I could do for them.


While I was getting the meal ready, it occurred to me that this is one of those things that most of us do without really thinking about it. If someone in our military Family Readiness Group or in our church gives us a call and asks us for a meal, we are happy to oblige.  Why is that?  Why is it, that something that could take a couple hours out of our already busy days is so easy to say yes too?  The answer is quite simple.  We don't live in a bubble.  We live in a community!

Look at the casserole I made for this family.  It had onions, beef, tomato sauce, cheese and several other ingredients that make it downright tasty.  Each ingredient has to be prepared the right way, and combined in the right order to optimize flavor.  When it is taken out of the oven, it is a delicious combination of awesomeness all rolled into one dish.  That casserole is a community, and without each ingredient doing its part, it just wouldn't taste right.

Our communities are like that as well.  Each of us have an important role to play in the lives of the other people in our circles.  We prepare meals for those going through life changing events because it allows us to, in some small way, make their lives a little easier.  We know, that if they aren't right, then the community isn't right, and we will do whatever needs to be done to bring that recipe back into perfection. 

Our participation in the meal train allows those of us in a certain community the opportunity to celebrate with those who celebrate, to grieve with those who grieve, and to act in a real, tangible way.  We cook because we care.  We feed because we feel.  We bake because believe in the responsibility we have to bear at least some of the burden for those who need a little take off of their shoulders.  And food is a great way to do that.

Next time you have the opportunity...GET ON THE TRAIN.  I promise, it's a great ride.

In memory of JLH 6 Sept 2012 - 10 Sept 2012.