Inside: You never know when something you once hated will become a huge blessing. Here’s an ironic example from my life. ~
Around 11 a.m. every day, I open my fridge, remove a carton of SunSweet prunes, and load five of them into a pottery bowl my daughter Molly bought in Northern Ireland.
Many of my routines were disrupted after my biking accident more than seven months ago. This one, however, is new.
It’s also surprising and unexpected.
Long Story Short …
My digestive system took a hit after the accident, leg surgery and 19 days of hospitalization. Keeping things moving was an uncomfortable challenge, let’s just say.
Once home, I tried everything to rectify the situation—except prunes.
I have always hated prunes, you see. In any form. Whole, pitted, juiced, whatever. I despised the taste and couldn’t stomach the thought of eating or drinking them.
Desperate Times
But desperate times call for desperate measures. One day Randy brought some organic prune juice home from the grocery store, and I started drinking it.
I couldn’t stand the taste, but I appreciated the result.
Somewhere along the way, someone suggested I try eating prunes instead. Though I resisted initially, the cost of the fancy prune juice prompted me to buy my first carton of prunes.
Oh, the Irony
Around this time, in late May, I also started noticing my taste and smell were diminished. It wasn’t a complete loss, thank goodness, but it was a delayed response to the traumatic brain injury I suffered in the bike accident.
Ironically, I could still taste prunes, and they didn’t taste so bad after all.
Almost six months later, I’m still eating prunes every day. Oddly enough, I now actually look forward to this late-morning snack.
Taste and See
My daughter might say this is because I’m old. But I would disagree.
It seems the scorned has become the blessing. It has happened before, in other areas of my life. (Perhaps you have experienced this too?)
I used to hate prunes and prune juice. Now I’m very thankful for them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good has been a recurring theme in my life this year. And sometimes, the venue for His goodness is prunes.
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Has the scorned ever become the blessing in your life? Or, on a lighter note, how do you feel about prunes? Please share in the comments.
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No Post Here Next Week
Next week, I’ll be sending out the second issue of my subscriber-only, email newsletter, Courage, Dear Heart. The newsletter replaces my third blog post of each month.
If you’ve already subscribed, I’m so grateful. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, I’d love for you to sign up today so you don’t miss anything. As my way of saying thanks, you will receive a seven-day devotional called Faith, Fear, and the God Who Goes Before Us once you sign up.
♥ Lois
It seems the scorned has become the blessing in my life. Perhaps you have experienced this too? Share on X Taste and see that the Lord is good has been a recurring theme this year. And sometimes, the venue for His goodness is prunes. Share on XP.S. I’m linking up this week with InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
18 comments
‘It seems the scorned has become the blessing.’
Wow, Lois. This is a profound thought and could be incredibly helpful at the way we look at things that seem less than or beneath us.
So many lessons to take with me today. Thanksgiving blessings to you and your sweet family. God is good.
Yes, He is! I’m glad you found this to be helpful, Linda. It has been for me too.
Prunes and pears are great for this issue. I’m glad you found a solution, Lois.
Thanks so much, Lisa. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Lois, this post brought a smile. For me it was liver and spinach. I couldn’t eat either one. Still can’t do liver but I love spinach now. As for prunes, I have never had a problem eating the ones you displayed. In fact, I enjoy them every once in a while without them being necessary. My problem would be to refrain from eating just two. I am grateful the Lord guides us in the ways that are best for us and for our good!
Me too, Joanne! (I can’t do liver either, by the way.) 🙂
I can’t stand prunes haha! But I appreciate your point here. Hmm…I really didn’t like audiobooks until recently, when I sometimes needed something to do that didn’t require my hands or eyes or holding my neck in a certain position. Now I’m a regular listener and grateful for it.
Bethany, I’m glad you found a helpful purpose for audiobooks and now enjoy them. I prefer paper books too but I’m currently reading an advanced copy of a book on my iPad. Turns out, it’s not so bad either!
“Taste and see that the Lord is good has been a recurring theme in my life this year.” Such a helpful theme to remember, Lois, especially as your life has gone through such drastic change this year. Our good God is faithful through the dark valleys, right? Holding our hand even when we cannot see or feel it. Love, hugs, and blessings, my friend!
Oh yes, Trudy … I’m so thankful “our good God is faithful through the dark valleys.” Love and hugs back to you, dear friend.
I never scorned them but rarely ate fresh cherries. Years ago, after a bout of gout 🙂 I was advised to eat fresh cherries as long as they were in season. I do that every year and never had gout again. I learned to love cherries and just wish the season were longer!
Wow, Jerralea … I didn’t know cherries had medicinal benefits! I’m so glad they’ve kept you gout-free!
I’ve never been a fan of prunes. 🙂 But they say you can develop a taste for most things with repeated exposure. I didn’t like broccoli growing up. But in college they served it buried in cheese sauce–not so bad. 🙂 Later, while trying to make healthier eating choices, I eliminated the cheese sauce. Now broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. I also didn’t like Brussels sprouts–they seemed too bitter. But there’s a frozen vegetable mixture in stores here with Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower that is really good.
We learned with some of our own digestive issues and when taking care of my m-i-l that it’s amazing what all affects that system one way or another. I’m glad you found a good solution that you now enjoy.
Thanks, Barbara. I love that broccoli, something you used to dislike, is now one of your favorite vegetables. That reminds me of mushrooms … when I was a kid, I always used to pick them out of my food and give them to my dad (who ate them happily). Now I eat them just fine. As for cheese sauce, healthy choice or not, I think it makes everything better!
I keep a container of prunes on hand too for the same reason. Funny how something so simple that God has provided is the best fix for an annoying problem.
Isn’t that the truth, Michele! If I had tried them earlier, I may have saved myself weeks of discomfort But at least I know now, right? 🙂
I haven’t tried prunes, but bananas are my scorned become blessing. I’ve always hated bananas. I liked the smell, but I couldn’t handle the taste or texture. This year that finally changed. Now I can’t understand why I didn’t like them before.
Wow, Ashley … that’s so interesting how your feelings about bananas changed just this year! I like bananas, but I can see how someone might not care for the texture. (I have relatives who have that same issue with avocados.)