Thursday 6th

Sainsburys closed this week.

Well, the Lisburn branch near me did.  It is closed for a complete refurbishment for ten days so on Tuesday I went down at about 4pm hoping to find some bargains before it closed its doors at 6pm.   It was very strange walking into a large supermarket and seeing mostly empty shelves.  Just about all the fruit and veg had disappeared and there was next to no bread at all.   They had already started packing things into crates ( goodness knows how long it was going to take to put every last item in the whole shop into boxes - it made moving house look like a walk in the park!)   The place was busy with people but the fresh food was dwindling fast.

It made me think how fortunate we are to live in a country where food is just there.  All the time.  Any type of food you want.  At any time of day or night.  On demand.

Seeing the empty shelves made me think of those many many places in the world where food is a luxury and shelves are regularly empty.  I thought of places like war torn Syria where people are eating leaves and grass because it is months since any food supplies have been able to get through.

According to Oxfam right now, today, almost a billion people on the planet are hungry.  Days hungry. Malnourished hungry.   You and I will probably, thankfully never have any idea of what that feels like.  We are truly blessed.

Its sobering isnt it?

This week someone made us a meal.  Out of the blue, completely unexpectedly and for no reason
whatsoever, a rather delicious shepherds pie appeared.  It was such a lovely surprise and a really practical help on a day when Id forgotten to take something out of the freezer for tea!  As part of this Lent blogging Ive been thinking that Id like to do some Random Acts of Kindness things. Maybe try to find something to do every day just to bless someone for no reason other than to express my thanks to God for His kindness and goodness to me.  So today I am going to do the same as my friend did for me and cook something for someone.  Sadly my culinary skills arent up to much but its the thought that counts isnt it?  :-)

Lord 
thank you so much for the food in my fridge and cupboards.  For the food on the supermarket shelves and the crops which are growing or about to be planted in the fields.  Thank you that despite the floods and storms we are never likely to go hungry in this country. Help us to use our resources wisely.  Forgive us for the sinful amount of food we throw away every year and for our greed which sees us gaining weight and suffering from weight related illnesses whilst more than half the world is starving.   I pray for all those who are hungry today and ask for relief to come quickly.  I pray for those in governments who are responsible for the global policies which affect trade and aid.  Help me to play my part in whatever ways I can.  Make me more thankful and less complacent.  Amen