I Samuel 28

Insight

In I Samuel 28, King Saul is spiraling. He has lost his connection to God, his confidence, and his path. In his darkest hour, he doesn’t seek counsel from his inner circle; he seeks a shortcut to clarity. Yet, the most profound moment in this chaotic chapter comes from the woman of En-dor. Amidst Saul’s terror and spiritual collapse, she notices something human: he hasn’t eaten. She feeds him, offering him the physical strength to carry on. As parents, we often try to solve our children's "existential" crises with logic, discipline, or grand lessons. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing we can do is offer a sandwich. When the world is falling apart, start with the basics of care.

Text Snapshot

"The woman went up to Saul and, seeing how greatly disturbed he was, she said to him... 'Let me set before you a bit of food. Eat, and then you will have the strength to go on your way.'" I Samuel 28:21-22

Activity: The "Reset" Snack (5 Minutes)

When your child is having a "Saul moment"—overwhelmed, defiant, or spiraling—stop the verbal interrogation. Move to the kitchen. Say nothing about the behavior. Simply prepare a small, nourishing snack together. Sit in silence for three minutes while you eat. The physical act of fueling the body can break the cycle of emotional exhaustion.

Script: When Your Child Asks, "Why are you being so nice when I'm being bad?"

"I’m not ignoring what happened. But we both need to be fueled up to handle it well. You can't think clearly when you're hungry or upset, and I can't parent well if I'm frustrated. Let’s eat, then we’ll talk."

Habit: The "HALT" Check-in

Once a day, before responding to a child’s behavior, silently check the HALT acronym: Is anyone Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired? Address the physical need before addressing the behavioral one.

Takeaway

Bless the chaos. Sometimes, the "holy" work of parenting isn't a grand sermon—it’s just making sure everyone has had enough to eat.