Here we are at the end of my dairy-free series. Hopefully it's been informative for anyone needing help going dairy-free, whether you are breastfeeding or not.
If you are slashing dairy because your baby is allergic or sensitive to cow's milk proteins in your breastmilk, you might be surprised at just how many processed food items contain milk protein. Now, please take in mind the nature of your baby's sensitivity or allergy. Some babies simply get gassy. Others have it so severe that if they intake dairy products unheeded, they have problems absorbing the nutrients that they get from other proteins and foods, simply because the gut is trying to push the offending proteins out of the intestinal tract as quickly as possible. Yikes!
So, do a little experimenting with an elimination diet to see just how sensitive your baby is. Sometimes you only need to cut out cheese and milk, and that's awesome. Sometimes you have to nix every trace of milk protein in your diet, and that's not so fun.
And the latter situation is where today's post will come in handy, because I'm writing about hidden dairy. Ah, the sneaky sneaky kind. If you're not a from-scratch cook, it might surprise you just how often dairy is used in common foods that you buy at the market. Below is a list of boxed, processed or prepared foods that usually have some form of milk powder, milk protein, or milk product in them.
Bread
Breadcrumbs
Some pasta sauces (obviously, the cream sauces, but also some tomato-based)
Crackers and chips
Vegetarian items and fake cheese
Packaged guacamole and veggie dips
Processed meats and hot dogs
Cakes, muffins, cookies
Sherbert and frozen fruit bars
Most chocolate candies
I must confess that the one that makes me most angry is the frozen fruit bars. In looking for an ice cream alternative, I saw them and was stoked. Yay! Something cold and sweet for after dinner. NOT. The first ingredient? Ice cream. Don't be fooled by brand or item names. Just because something says it's "Whole Fruit", doesn't mean it's fruit only. I had a box of frozen coconut fruit bars in my freezer for months, just taunting me.
Are you bummed out yet? Resigned to just eating fruits and vegetables until your baby weans? (HOW CAN PEOPLE BE VEGANS?????!!!!!!)
Don't give up. Dairy-free isn't all that bad after you push through the first few weeks and figure out good replacement foods. You WILL be hungry the first few days, especially if you eat a few helpings a day like I did. Your bones won't shrivel up for lack of calcium, especially if you eat lots of almonds and dark green vegetables.
The best thing that I did to keep me on track with a dairy-free diet was to remember that my motivation was for Emmy's overall health. It won't last forever, and on the day that she weans, I'm making the biggest grilled cheese sandwich that I can handle. Until then, I'll sacrifice a little cream here and there, and be thankful that I even have food on the table and a child in my arms.
P.S. Don't make stuffed shells with tofu and spinach. It's horrible.
February 3, 2012
February 1, 2012
The Dairy Diaries: Part Two
Ah, here we are again, talking about milk for the sake of milk. My dairy-free diet has not always been easy, and I hope that the following tips and linked recipes can help others who need to drop la leche for whatever reason. Mine was so that I could continue to breastfeed, because my baby is sensitive to dairy (milk proteins) in my breastmilk. If you have any dairy-free recipes, tips or experiences, feel free to share!
Kale chips. They look weird going in the oven, but they're crunchy and salty and before you know it, you've eaten a whole head of kale in one sitting.
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/03/baked-kale-chips/
Substitute Foods
Silk PureAlmond almond milk - It's so good! Almonds are very high in calcium, and I find the taste of the original flavor (non-sweetened) to be creamy enough to enjoy a glass by itself. Most of the time, though, I use it with my morning cereal. The vanilla flavor is, admittedly, even better, but I try to stay away from unnecessary sugar, and since my cereal or oatmeal is sweet, it's still yummy!
Coconut milk - This has seriously been a lifesaver when it comes to making desserts. Its full-fat version can be whipped into frosting, and even the lite variety has a wonderful thickness when put in smoothies. I've found that it gives a really great flavor to whole grain oatmeal. On days when all I want is some ice cream, I can just stick a can in the fridge for an hour, crack that baby open and drink it over ice with some berries. It is high in fat, but let's call it the good kind without doing research, ok? :)
Earth Balance spread - As a relatively new product, this dairy-free, soy-free spread is easy to find and is flexible for cooking. I use it to saute veggies and to bake cookies and cakes. It consists of a blend of hydrogenated vegetable and seed oils, but is surprisingly buttery in taste. It can be pricey, at around $4 for a medium-sized tub (maybe 16 oz?), but is worth the investment. Winn-Dixie and Publix carry it, but I haven't been able to find it at Wal-Mart, and I cannot remember if the Army commissary keeps it in stock.
Chamomile tea - Weirdly enough, it tastes buttery. To me, at least!
Kale and collard greens - These are sky-rocket high in calcium, so chomp down and keep osteoporosis at bay.
Dark chocolate - Most dark chocolate candies don't have milk or milk products in them, but they are rich and sweet and when melted into almond milk, make for an indulgent late-night drink.
Chamomile tea - Weirdly enough, it tastes buttery. To me, at least!
Kale and collard greens - These are sky-rocket high in calcium, so chomp down and keep osteoporosis at bay.
Dark chocolate - Most dark chocolate candies don't have milk or milk products in them, but they are rich and sweet and when melted into almond milk, make for an indulgent late-night drink.
Recipes
Substitute Earth Balance spread for the butter and you'll have a SERIOUS PROBLEM ON YOUR HANDS. As in, you will probably eat this whole cake. But really, it's delicious.
Kale chips. They look weird going in the oven, but they're crunchy and salty and before you know it, you've eaten a whole head of kale in one sitting.
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/03/baked-kale-chips/
There they are, short and sweet! Our next and final post about my dairy-free experience will be about hidden and unexpected dairy in common foods that we eat. Please post if you have any great recipes or food tips for eating dairy-free!
January 20, 2012
The Dairy Diaries: Part One
Should you happen to be a man (or woman!) who is made uncomfortable by the sound of your own in-head voice reading about breastfeeding, please avert your eyes and spare yourself the gagging. Thank you.
Hello!
Today I'm going to start a series of entries about going dairy-free. I have been dairy-free for about 8 months now, with a few cheats here and there. I gave up dairy because my breastfeeding daughter is sensitive to it, something I discovered after a little bit of detective work when she was around 8 weeks old. Breastfeeding was such an intense bonding experience, and I loved knowing that my body could sustain her, so I gave dairy the boot because it was important to me to be able to continue exclusive breastfeeding. However, don't get me wrong. I LOVE CHEESE. And milk. And ice cream. Yogurt, oh the creamy yogurt. Mmmmm, sour cream on my nachos. Ah, the thick and smooth cream sauce! Ok, ok, I'll stop! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and that's why I'm writing this in the first place.
If you are here needing help because you think that your breastfed baby might have a dairy sensitivity, intolerance or allergy, please remember to consult your pediatrician. Ours, an excellent doctor, did not have much to say on the issue, and confessed that although his own children were breastfed, he didn't know much about dealing with sensitivities to whatever the mother ate; however, many doctors, midwives or lactation specialists can offer great advice. In search of help, I did a lot of "Dr. Googling" and found other moms who had the same troubles, and hope to add my two cents in case I can ease anyone other mamas in their journey. (Note: Your doctor may recommend switching to formula; however, most formulas are made with a milk protein base, and this will not help at all. A soy-based formula is the only alternative. I encourage you to go dairy-free and keep nursing, though!)
Signs
Emmy starting exhibiting signs of dairy sensitivity around 8 weeks old. She had bright green, mucousy poops and was fussy for no apparent reason around 5-7 p.m. Occasionally there was a slightly bloody stool, which really got me worried. LLL's book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding mentions dairy sensitivity, so I went with my instinct and starting an elimination diet. Basically, I dropped all dairy products for a couple of days and the improvements in both her mood and her poop were drastic. She no longer had evening spells of crying and whimpering, and her stools were perfect. Yes, I realize that only a parent can think that their child's poop is perfect :) And so we hit the nail on the head, and I realized that I needed to make a lifestyle change when it came to my eating and cooking habits.
Continued Signs
Today, at 10 months old, Emmy is still breastfeeding and is still sensitive to dairy in my milk. She eats meats, grains, fruits and veggies many times throughout the day, but her main sustenance is still breastmilk. One difference now is how her sensitivity is displayed. In her early months, her stools were enough to tell. Now, as her diet has expanded and her GI tract has matured, that's no longer the case. Dairy no longer affects her poop. So, every few weeks, I eat a serving of dairy to test and see how it affects her. And yes, I relish those precious few and far between bites of cheese!
Interestingly, in the last two months, her sensitivity has come through in her skin. I ate lasagna and a few pieces of chocolate one day, and she developed tiny ezcema-like patches on her thigh-joint areas, as well as on the back of her calves and near her elbows. When I ate more dairy the following day, the patches got thicker and redder. The next few days, I dropped all dairy and the patches cleared up immediately.
So.... sigh. She is still sensitive to dairy. But that's ok, because I know how to deal with it now!
Baby Steps
I didn't realize how often I ate dairy, and how many surprising food products contain dairy, which, to be clear, does not include eggs. An elimination diet can be shocking, and for ravenous breastfeeding moms, it can be difficult to feel satiated without those yummy fats.
I recommend going cold turkey, as this will speed up the process of removing all milk proteins from your body. Most research that I have read says that milk proteins can stay in your body for up to 3 weeks, yikes! However, it only took two or three days to see drastic improvements in our case.
Soups, stews, salads, trail mix and teas are what helped me in my elimination diet. The liquids kept me hydrated, and the protein from nuts and meat made me feel full. Also, chamomile tea, to me, has a buttery taste, so if you are really craving it, make yourself a cup. It might surprise you to find natural foods that taste just as rich as dairy!
My next post will be about how to sustain a dairy-free diet by using substitute foods. If you are dairy-free, please comment and share about your choice. I'd love to hear from you!
Hello!
Today I'm going to start a series of entries about going dairy-free. I have been dairy-free for about 8 months now, with a few cheats here and there. I gave up dairy because my breastfeeding daughter is sensitive to it, something I discovered after a little bit of detective work when she was around 8 weeks old. Breastfeeding was such an intense bonding experience, and I loved knowing that my body could sustain her, so I gave dairy the boot because it was important to me to be able to continue exclusive breastfeeding. However, don't get me wrong. I LOVE CHEESE. And milk. And ice cream. Yogurt, oh the creamy yogurt. Mmmmm, sour cream on my nachos. Ah, the thick and smooth cream sauce! Ok, ok, I'll stop! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and that's why I'm writing this in the first place.
If you are here needing help because you think that your breastfed baby might have a dairy sensitivity, intolerance or allergy, please remember to consult your pediatrician. Ours, an excellent doctor, did not have much to say on the issue, and confessed that although his own children were breastfed, he didn't know much about dealing with sensitivities to whatever the mother ate; however, many doctors, midwives or lactation specialists can offer great advice. In search of help, I did a lot of "Dr. Googling" and found other moms who had the same troubles, and hope to add my two cents in case I can ease anyone other mamas in their journey. (Note: Your doctor may recommend switching to formula; however, most formulas are made with a milk protein base, and this will not help at all. A soy-based formula is the only alternative. I encourage you to go dairy-free and keep nursing, though!)
Signs
Emmy starting exhibiting signs of dairy sensitivity around 8 weeks old. She had bright green, mucousy poops and was fussy for no apparent reason around 5-7 p.m. Occasionally there was a slightly bloody stool, which really got me worried. LLL's book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding mentions dairy sensitivity, so I went with my instinct and starting an elimination diet. Basically, I dropped all dairy products for a couple of days and the improvements in both her mood and her poop were drastic. She no longer had evening spells of crying and whimpering, and her stools were perfect. Yes, I realize that only a parent can think that their child's poop is perfect :) And so we hit the nail on the head, and I realized that I needed to make a lifestyle change when it came to my eating and cooking habits.
Continued Signs
Today, at 10 months old, Emmy is still breastfeeding and is still sensitive to dairy in my milk. She eats meats, grains, fruits and veggies many times throughout the day, but her main sustenance is still breastmilk. One difference now is how her sensitivity is displayed. In her early months, her stools were enough to tell. Now, as her diet has expanded and her GI tract has matured, that's no longer the case. Dairy no longer affects her poop. So, every few weeks, I eat a serving of dairy to test and see how it affects her. And yes, I relish those precious few and far between bites of cheese!
Interestingly, in the last two months, her sensitivity has come through in her skin. I ate lasagna and a few pieces of chocolate one day, and she developed tiny ezcema-like patches on her thigh-joint areas, as well as on the back of her calves and near her elbows. When I ate more dairy the following day, the patches got thicker and redder. The next few days, I dropped all dairy and the patches cleared up immediately.
So.... sigh. She is still sensitive to dairy. But that's ok, because I know how to deal with it now!
Baby Steps
I didn't realize how often I ate dairy, and how many surprising food products contain dairy, which, to be clear, does not include eggs. An elimination diet can be shocking, and for ravenous breastfeeding moms, it can be difficult to feel satiated without those yummy fats.
I recommend going cold turkey, as this will speed up the process of removing all milk proteins from your body. Most research that I have read says that milk proteins can stay in your body for up to 3 weeks, yikes! However, it only took two or three days to see drastic improvements in our case.
Soups, stews, salads, trail mix and teas are what helped me in my elimination diet. The liquids kept me hydrated, and the protein from nuts and meat made me feel full. Also, chamomile tea, to me, has a buttery taste, so if you are really craving it, make yourself a cup. It might surprise you to find natural foods that taste just as rich as dairy!
My next post will be about how to sustain a dairy-free diet by using substitute foods. If you are dairy-free, please comment and share about your choice. I'd love to hear from you!
January 12, 2012
A Small Triumph
I love crafts. I love sewing. I love baby nap time, and on a really really good day, all those happen at the same time.
Here's my January wreath, hanging proudly on our front door. It's wintery in the most Southern of ways -- bright bluewhite skies and still-blooming bushes with streaks of yellow. No snowflakes here, at least not yet, but it's snowed in March for the past two years, so we'll see!
Here's my January wreath, hanging proudly on our front door. It's wintery in the most Southern of ways -- bright bluewhite skies and still-blooming bushes with streaks of yellow. No snowflakes here, at least not yet, but it's snowed in March for the past two years, so we'll see!
January 3, 2012
New Year's Will Bring Me to You
(name that song & artist ^ and you get a big digital hug from me for having great musical taste)
Christmas came and went, and here it is, 2012. I'm going to take an hour one of these days and write out all about our time at home, and about the horrors of roseola, and how apparently you can PMS without PMSing, and how amazing simple dates with my husband are, but for now, I'm looking forward.
This year's calendar is already so full: Emmy's first birthday, lots of "trips" for Daddy, big projects for Mommy to tackle. Our family has some singular challenges in store, but none that we can't tackle with a little bit of Rosie the Riveter attitude and a lot of Holy Spirit strength.
I usually do one New Year's resolution a year. The last two were to stay in touch with friends and to not give unsolicited advice.
This year, I'm amping it up to a handful instead of just one. Here goes!
Give more instead of being crazy about finding a deal. Store up treasures in heaven.
Grow a victory garden.
Love on my friends and family by remembering and making special their birthdays.
Read the whole Bible.
Christmas came and went, and here it is, 2012. I'm going to take an hour one of these days and write out all about our time at home, and about the horrors of roseola, and how apparently you can PMS without PMSing, and how amazing simple dates with my husband are, but for now, I'm looking forward.
This year's calendar is already so full: Emmy's first birthday, lots of "trips" for Daddy, big projects for Mommy to tackle. Our family has some singular challenges in store, but none that we can't tackle with a little bit of Rosie the Riveter attitude and a lot of Holy Spirit strength.
I usually do one New Year's resolution a year. The last two were to stay in touch with friends and to not give unsolicited advice.
This year, I'm amping it up to a handful instead of just one. Here goes!
Give more instead of being crazy about finding a deal. Store up treasures in heaven.
Grow a victory garden.
Love on my friends and family by remembering and making special their birthdays.
Read the whole Bible.
December 9, 2011
Another Lesson Learned
I consider myself a fair-to-average crafter, good decorator, great seamstress and excellent cook.
Sometimes, though, it just doesn't work out.
The other night, I attempted to pan-fry tiny grouper nuggets. They literally disintegrated into a pile of fish mush in the pan, and we ended up ordering dinner. Shout out to Mark's City Grill!
A few weeks ago, I wanted to make cozy baby boots for Emmy. I didn't need no stinkin' pattern.
Sometimes, though, it just doesn't work out.
The other night, I attempted to pan-fry tiny grouper nuggets. They literally disintegrated into a pile of fish mush in the pan, and we ended up ordering dinner. Shout out to Mark's City Grill!
A few weeks ago, I wanted to make cozy baby boots for Emmy. I didn't need no stinkin' pattern.
Hmm... that is a general shoe appearance. Hey, Emmy, do you want to wear these? But they're made by your mama, with lots of love. What do you mean, other kids have shoes with shape?
Ah, okay, I see what you mean. I wouldn't give these boots to Dobby, and I didn't even bother to finish the top seam. They. Are. Horrendous.
So, the lesson of the day is that sometimes I don't know it all and I need a pattern. Or a merciful friend to tell me what's what. Or the Bible to point the way.
"But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." - James 4:6
P.S. Tryna, if you're reading this, Jonah will not be receiving a pair of Dobby boots. And he's better for it :)
P.P.S. If anyone needs a soulful, heartbroken song, listen to "Lesson Learned" by Alicia Keys. So good.
December 5, 2011
Snakes, Babies and Sons of Abraham
Here's last week's Advent study scriptures. Take a minute to read over what might be familiar words to you from the book of Isaiah.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (9:2)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (9:6-7)
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. (11:1-4)
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. (11:6-9)
These are prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament, from Isaiah, inspired by God, and almost haunting in tone. This Son, born out of Israel, was to bring about peace, justice, fairness for the afflicted. I've never really paused to think about the Jewish nation of Israel during Christmastime. But now, reading these passages, they are on my mind. How must it feel to see huge Christian populations of the world celebrate the birth of a Messiah, if you don't believe that he was the true Messiah, as most of them do? How must it feel to think that maybe this amazing peace-bringer might still come in your lifetime? How must it feel to hear carols about it all?
God's promise of a Messiah is a big one. You can't just tell your kids, "Hey, I know that I'm pretty awesome, but one day, I'm going to send someone to you who is AMAZING. He's going to make all the wrongs right and make a kingdom of peace that lasts forever" and then not follow up. God did follow up. It just wasn't the way that the Jewish nation thought He would. It was in the humility of a baby.
To me, this is often the hardest point of belief in our Christian faith that I have. How can a baby be God? How can a person, a person with bodily functions and frailties, be God?
I was dressing Emmy the other day, looking at the fingernails that needed to be trimmed and the dried pumpkin puree on her cheeks that needed to be washed and the fuzzy hair sticking out everywhere and thought, "Jesus was a baby". Jesus needed diapers and kisses and naptimes. And yet He was God.
Let me take a rabbit trail for a minute and tell you about a dream I had two nights ago: Our family was living somewhere out west and it was a hot, sunny day. I went outside to sunbathe in a gravel driveway, and Emmy joined me. Maybe baby sunbathing is ok in dreams? Anyway, as I was lying on my back, I saw and heard a huge yellow rattlesnake by my side. I had to make a decision. Do I move? Do I stay still? Do I grab Emmy and run? He might strike if I move too quickly. He might go away if I stay still.
I am scared of snakes, no doubt about it. In my dream, I grabbed Emmy and ran. So when I came across the verse in our reading, "The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra", I got really creeped out. I can't imagine Emmy by a snakehole or near a poisonous snake. It's too stomach-dropping scary. But this is what God promised -- a peaceful existence.
Jesus brought us peace, eternal peace. When we know Him and believe that He is the light in the darkness of the world, we know His peace. Does this mean that I can let Emmy go play with snakes, chilling over by the cobra holes? Of course not. It's a picture of peace in the natural world that translates to our spiritual lives. I could go on for awhile about the symbolism of snakes and animals in the Bible, but this is already getting long. Are you still reading? Ok, good :)
What I want to finish off with are the encouragements below, for myself and for you.
1. Pray for Israel and Jewish people who haven't accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Pray for faith, faith to believe that God was man.
3. Pray for peace in our families, and that God would teach us to live in the peace that Jesus has brought us.
Merry Christmastime!
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (9:2)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (9:6-7)
Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. (11:1-4)
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. (11:6-9)
These are prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament, from Isaiah, inspired by God, and almost haunting in tone. This Son, born out of Israel, was to bring about peace, justice, fairness for the afflicted. I've never really paused to think about the Jewish nation of Israel during Christmastime. But now, reading these passages, they are on my mind. How must it feel to see huge Christian populations of the world celebrate the birth of a Messiah, if you don't believe that he was the true Messiah, as most of them do? How must it feel to think that maybe this amazing peace-bringer might still come in your lifetime? How must it feel to hear carols about it all?
God's promise of a Messiah is a big one. You can't just tell your kids, "Hey, I know that I'm pretty awesome, but one day, I'm going to send someone to you who is AMAZING. He's going to make all the wrongs right and make a kingdom of peace that lasts forever" and then not follow up. God did follow up. It just wasn't the way that the Jewish nation thought He would. It was in the humility of a baby.
To me, this is often the hardest point of belief in our Christian faith that I have. How can a baby be God? How can a person, a person with bodily functions and frailties, be God?
I was dressing Emmy the other day, looking at the fingernails that needed to be trimmed and the dried pumpkin puree on her cheeks that needed to be washed and the fuzzy hair sticking out everywhere and thought, "Jesus was a baby". Jesus needed diapers and kisses and naptimes. And yet He was God.
Let me take a rabbit trail for a minute and tell you about a dream I had two nights ago: Our family was living somewhere out west and it was a hot, sunny day. I went outside to sunbathe in a gravel driveway, and Emmy joined me. Maybe baby sunbathing is ok in dreams? Anyway, as I was lying on my back, I saw and heard a huge yellow rattlesnake by my side. I had to make a decision. Do I move? Do I stay still? Do I grab Emmy and run? He might strike if I move too quickly. He might go away if I stay still.
I am scared of snakes, no doubt about it. In my dream, I grabbed Emmy and ran. So when I came across the verse in our reading, "The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra", I got really creeped out. I can't imagine Emmy by a snakehole or near a poisonous snake. It's too stomach-dropping scary. But this is what God promised -- a peaceful existence.
Jesus brought us peace, eternal peace. When we know Him and believe that He is the light in the darkness of the world, we know His peace. Does this mean that I can let Emmy go play with snakes, chilling over by the cobra holes? Of course not. It's a picture of peace in the natural world that translates to our spiritual lives. I could go on for awhile about the symbolism of snakes and animals in the Bible, but this is already getting long. Are you still reading? Ok, good :)
What I want to finish off with are the encouragements below, for myself and for you.
1. Pray for Israel and Jewish people who haven't accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
2. Pray for faith, faith to believe that God was man.
3. Pray for peace in our families, and that God would teach us to live in the peace that Jesus has brought us.
Merry Christmastime!
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