Receiving a Meal Train
This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for receiving a Meal Train.
We didn’t even think to do one when B was born, but leading up to the birth of A, so many people asked us for our Meal Train link that I started to feel uncomfortable not having one.
The catch was, I was also uncomfortable WITH having a Meal Train link. My resistance was primarily two-pronged:
I wasn’t convinced we needed one. We fended for ourselves fine before; we’d be fine again.
I don’t deserve one. When other people have Meal Trains, I often fail to contribute, therefore, it is only fair that I not receive contributions.
Then the Meal Train topic somehow came up in therapy—twice!—and I was kind of annoyed to explore it. Especially because I’d already conceded to popular opinion and agreed to let a friend set one up for me.
But I’m really glad I agreed to look a little deeper. Because my therapist pointed out that it might be possible for me to do more than tolerate people choosing to offer support.
What if I could welcome/embrace/bask in people’s care and generosity?
Turn out my resistance to receiving a Meal Train was significant, rooted in several foundational (and false) beliefs. And while that resistance didn’t magically melt away the moment I gained awareness and clarity, it receded enough for me to begin sharing the link with people.
Which meant people began signing up. And then I had a baby, and my world almost instantly turned into a blurry, feely mush. And then people started just…dropping off food?!
At least twice now, I have ventured into the kitchen thinking, “hm okay what am I going to put in my body” only to see my spouse walk in from the porch with a freshly prepared/delivered meal.
Some meals are more like treats and snacks (YAY) and some are takeout gift cards (ALSO YAY) and some are homemade and some are store bought and every single offering has genuinely touched my heart.
Because it is true I sometimes fail to contribute to other people’s Meal Trains (though maybe not anymore?!). But it’s also true there are many ways of offering support. And for plenty of people, participating in someone’s Meal Train is an accessible and desirable way to show up.
I am grateful. (And also full.)
Love > fear,
Christina