500 Calories A Day

I have a neighbor at the end of my street. She is old and lives by herself. She was without a refrigerator suddenly, so I took her dinner while she waited for her new one. I walked into her yard holding the bag of groceries ready to eat. She hugged me with great abandon, " It is so nice of you to think of me, but I can't eat this." It was chicken and rice and bread. "I only eat 500 calories a day. Oatmeal and dry toast in the morning, and my Healthy Choice dinner in the evening. I have to watch my weight." She took another drag from her cigarette. "It means so much that you brought me food." She held my hand.

She is not overweight, not at all. I looked her in the eye and explained why no adult person can live on 500 calories a day. She responded, "I eat my vegetables." I pushed, but I quickly realized there was no talking to her about this. I was tempted to call her son to see if he knew about this. I was concerned for her life.

I walked away frustrated at her. "How can she live? This has to change." I said to myself, but I was powerless to change her. She had made up her mind.

I, too, make up my mind and refuse to listen to others, sometimes.





Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7