The power of Jell-O

As I sit in my husband's hospital room, they bring his evening meal and I see the ever-present Jell-O with just a dab of whipped cream, and I'm taken back to times I've been ill and my caregivers faithfully administered the sweet, slippery, easy to eat gelatin. There's no ailment for which Jell-O isn't the cure! As I got older, the Jell-O became more complicated. There was the orange fluff - a concoction with whipped cream and marshmallows and mandarin oranges and God only knows what else! My all time favorite is the infamous "Watergate" salad - don't know what the name implies - that also involves whippiness and pistachio pudding and, again, no one knows what else. 

When friends or church members are sick, we take Jell-O dishes called congealed salads. These involve fruit or vegetable additions to the luscious gel. Thanksgiving usually calls for a cranberry-Jell-O mixture of some sort. It's everywhere! But, does it heal?

I think Jell-O has healed many people - not because of the flavor or recipe - but because of the love behind the gift! It says to the sick person, "I don't really know what to say or do, but I thought you could use some Jell-O." It's kind of the "kiss-it-and-make-it-better" phenomenon. It may just be a placebo, but who's to say a little love well applied doesn't go a long way toward healing?  When people are sick, they often are frustrated often by their weakness or inability to take care of themselves. They draw comfort and healing in the fact that there is someone who cares enough to help them in their weakness.

My faith in Jesus Christ gives me comfort and strength in my weakness - but sometimes it's really nice to have one of his angels show up with Jell-O!