I was out of town for the funeral of my husband's father when I received the message inviting me to be a blogger. It was a stressful time, made bearable only by the assurance that while he cannot return to us, we will see him again in heaven.

The stress of those difficult days is the background of my first blog. Here are 3 lessons from the funeral.

My husband spent the last 10 days of his father's life helping to care for his dad. He and I talked on the phone every night. The days were increasingly stressful. One night he seemed close to the breaking point. I said, "Get to the store. Buy some multiple vitamins and some calcium." He had all kinds of excuses: he didn't know where to find a health food store, he didn't know what brand to buy, and he couldn't be away from the house too long. I said, "The stress is depleting your body of vitamins and minerals faster than you can possibly replace them with food. Just go to a grocery store. Buy any multiple and buy some calcium citrate." He did, and by the time we talked the next night he could feel the difference in his mood and in his ability to relax and sleep. Do I believe that the premium vitamins I buy are superior in quality and better absorbed than the grocery store brands? YES. But here is lesson #1 - When I can't do the best, I do the best I can.

After the funeral, friends of the family brought in lots of food and set up a reception in the dining room. The table was full of wheat and sugar and other avoids. It all was brought by people who love our family. I could have been obnoxious, rejecting the food and the love that came with it. I could have disregarded eating right and filled my plate with avoids. Either extreme would have been foolish. I graciously accepted a piece of carrot cake. Lesson #2 - My health problems are not the result of politely eating an occasional avoid that is offered as an expression of love, but of willfully indulging in avoids when I have the opportunity to make better choices.

That piece of carrot cake, while not satisfying any nutritional requirements, did satisfy me at an emotional level. At times of stress we all crave comfort food. However, the comfort effect of the carrot cake was very short lived. It wasn't long until I found myself circling the dessert table craving more. I was determined not to yield, and went into the kitchen. Someone brought a huge platter of brisket. Someone else brought a bowl of delightful greens - not just iceberg lettuce, but spinach and dandelion as well. I piled my plate with greens, and topped it with lots of brisket. Here was food that gave both nourishment and comfort. I felt full and satisfied for the rest of the day. Lesson #3 True comfort and satisfaction are in beneficials.