Oatmeal

A not-so-subtle reminder that God’s word is substantially more important than oatmeal.

Every single morning I have 10oz of oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of brown sugar. I used to have 2 eggs every morning, but have you seen the prices of eggs? Switching to oatmeal was honestly the more economical choice. I remember growing up, oatmeal was something I despised and refused to eat- even with the non-nurturing fun food added in. Now it seems to be a part of my daily routine. The alarm goes off, the girls get woken up (if they haven’t already started yelling mama into their monitors), Brenden takes them downstairs while I get ready, and then I put my oatmeal in the microwave. Sometimes I eat it while it is still steaming because the girls are miraculously not needing me, and sometimes I eat it long after Brenden and Eden have left for preschool and it has turned cold. It goes along with my coffee, which sometimes I can use to warm up my chilly hands and sometimes feels like it was an iced coffee, when in fact it was not.

Choosing oatmeal for breakfast saves me from having to look in the fridge and think about breakfast. It has become routine, a habit that does not require any extra brain space. My brain has enough going on that it deserved a break. Doctors appointments, when a diaper got changed last, what am I making for dinner?, when did I start that load of laundry in the washer?, I need to get Denver to the dog park, Eden needs a packed lunch, the floors need to be mopped, don’t forget about this event or that.

So oatmeal it is.

This went great until the day I went to pour my oatmeal into the bowl and the container was empty. I even checked the cabinets, assuming that we had more somewhere. Alas: we did not and I stared at the little pieces of oatmeal stragglers at the bottom of the container. I did not eat breakfast that morning and the rest of the day was off. Everything felt just slightly out of place, just slightly different, and just not quite right. So I bought more oatmeal. At Costco.

While oatmeal has grown on me, the intention is not a long Substack post about oatmeal. As I ate my oatmeal this morning (cold and long after it was just Cana and I, if you were wondering) I realized how quickly I was able to build this habit. It made my day easier and after the first week of consistency, I didn’t have to think twice about it.

Confession time: I’m not very good at reading my Bible daily. I’m not very good at sticking with a devotion plan. I’m not very good at making sure my day includes God’s word.

I have tried buying different studies, different Bibles, and downloading apps. But then the day gets away from me and I don’t realize I forgot until the day has long gone. This cycle continues until I realize that it has been a few weeks since I remembered.

It feels like it should be easy to add in the Bible, to sprinkle in some of God’s word into my day. Why did I create a habit out of oatmeal quicker than a habit of being spiritually invested?

I told myself it is because oatmeal made my day easier, made it so I had to think a little less, so that I could wake up and there would be one less thing to worry about. But how ridiculous is that?

A day of missing the Bible should feel like the day I ran out of oatmeal. It should make everything slightly off, not quite right, a little more difficult. It should make me feel like I got off on the wrong foot. I should be as quick to rectify forgetting to be immersed in the Word as quickly as I rushed to Costco to get more oatmeal.

The Bible should help me start my day with a little more grace, a little more understanding, a little more peace. Yet I find ways to avoid it or postpone it. Oh, I’ll just start at the beginning of the month. That should help. Oh, I can’t read and study while Cana is awake, and her naps have been short lately. Oh, maybe I just need to order a new devotional or study book. Oh, it would be easier if I had a community to study with. Oh, I….

Stop.

Jesus tells us to be in the Word. That those of God are in the Word. The Word is to equip us, prepare us, and restore us. How can that happen if we are not fully immersing ourselves in the word?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Maybe it means waking up five minutes earlier or taking the first five minutes of naptime to open up scripture. Maybe it means instead of playing silly games or scrolling through social media before bed, grabbing my Bible. Maybe it means listening to an audio Bible in the car instead of music.

I don’t need some fancy new devotional book or some shiny Bible cover, just like I don’t need a five course breakfast. I need the Word of God to be in my life every single day, to shape me and mold me and show me how to be His hands and feet. The Word does not need to be wrapped up in a cute little box with a bow on top. I just need my Bible and a heart ready to hear His words.

And in case you and I need a reminder: God’s word is substantially more important than oatmeal.