Hello there, dear readers! It’s your good friend Mary here, and I’ve got something to tell you that might just knock your socks off. Now, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking, ‘Oh, I know all about skipping meals and how it’s bad for you. Nothing new here.’ Well, hold on to your suspenders, because I promise you, you’ll want to read till the very end of this. I mean, it’s not like I have any shocking revelations, right? (Wink, wink.)

Let’s start with a little story, because who doesn’t love a good story? Picture this: a bright and sunny morning, the birds are singing, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air. Ah, mornings were designed by the good Lord for contemplation and slow sips of coffee, weren’t they? But here comes our friend Linda, bless her heart, rushing out with just a cup of that caffeinated magic, without a morsel of food in sight. ‘Mary,’ she tells me, ‘I just don’t have time for breakfast.’

Well, hearing that just about made me clutch my pearls. You see, skipping meals is like skipping church—a recipe for disaster. And folks, I’ve seen more of these ‘no time for breakfast’ cases turn into the grumpiest of grumps by midday. If you think a fasting Linda is the same sweet Linda, think again. By noon, she’s ready to throw a hymn book at someone.

You’d think skipping a meal here and there is just a small sacrifice in our busy, worldly lives, right? Oh, but it’s so much more than that. Let me break it down for you. You see, when you miss a meal, it’s not just about hunger pangs—it’s about your brain and body throwing a little fit, much like a toddler denied candy. It doesn’t matter if you’re as fit as a fiddle or stronger than a Chevrolet truck; missing meals can make you weak as water.

But here’s where it gets really interesting. There’s something called ‘hanger,’ and trust me, it’s real. Try skipping lunch and see if you don’t feel like snapping at your loved ones for simply existing. Even the folks at NASA studied it—well, I might be stretching that one, but the point stands. Meal skipping turns even the gentlest souls into, can you believe it, grizzly bears.

Now, I’ve got a funny little anecdote. A few months back, my dear hubby Betty hitched us all up for a picnic. He packed everything: the essentials, the extras, the works. Ironically, he forgot the sandwiches. Yes, those were meant to be the cornerstone of our picnic experience. And let me tell you, Betty without his midday sandwiches is like a winter without Christmas—dull, impatient, and a little icy. We laughed, we cried, and eventually, we found the nearest diner to fix our moods. Remember this, folks: it doesn’t take much to turn an adventure into a disaster, and often it’s as simple as missing a meal.

What’s the takeaway here? Friends, life is too short and unpredictable to skip meals. We’ve got a country to love, families to cherish, and meals to remember. I mean, think about it—every meal skipped is a moment of joy lost. Do you want to look back and remember how hangry you were instead of cherishing each delightful bite of your aunt’s famous meatloaf?

People often ask me, ‘Mary, how are you always so cheerful?’ Well, apart from some good ol’ Bible reading and a patriotic attitude, it’s because I never, *never*, skip my meals. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, each is a sacred ritual. The good Lord didn’t bless us with the bounty of the earth just to have us ignore it, did He?

So the next time you think about skipping a meal, remember Linda, remember Betty, and for heaven’s sake, remember your own peace of mind. And if that’s not enough to keep you on the right track, think about this: skipping meals can lead to unwanted pounds, not losing them. Oh yes, your body gets all worked up and starts saving every calorie like it’s a rainy day. Fast metabolism, slow metabolism—it doesn’t matter, your body becomes as thrifty as your grandma during the Great Depression.

And now, my lovely friends, don’t you dare hit that ‘X’ button just yet because I’m wrapping it all up with a bow. You see, the real danger isn’t just the hunger itself, it’s all the dominoes that start falling because of it. Your patience wears thin, your joy diminishes, and your body rebels. So, you might want to give that lunch break the same reverence you give to your Sunday service. After all, both are holy in their own right. And heaven knows we don’t just skip a service; likewise, skipping a meal is a sin against yourself.

Well, that’s all I have on the subject today. Remember, it’s not just about filling your belly—it’s about nourishing your soul, too. So treat yourself to that next meal and thank the good Lord for the simple pleasures in life.