Well, I’m going to blow your mind with this one today. Of all the things people could pick to celebrate, today is National Sardines Day. And I’m happy to celebrate it because I absolutely love sardines straight out of the can.
Many of you are thinking, “What’s wrong with him?!?” Blame it on my mother. She got me started on them and even though she was a finicky eater, she liked sardines. And we are sardine purists. We eat the ones that are just packed in water. No oil, mustard, or any other additive. Just the fish, ma’am, and nothing but the fish.
Style, entertainment, and cooking guru, Martha Stewart, has high words of praise for the little fish.
“Like many smaller fish, sardines are packed with health benefits, such as high protein and good fats. There’s more:
- Sardines are tiny and known for having low mercury levels.
- A 3-ounce serving of sardines delivers a huge punch of vitamin D.
- Sardines contain 2 grams of omega-3s per serving, which is the highest concentration of omega-3s in any fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for heart health, lung function, immunity, and much more.”1
WebMD agrees! “Sardines are rich in essential nutrients, low in calories, and recommended as part of a healthy diet. Adding sardines to a balanced diet can help improve blood vessel function, ease inflammation, and more.
Studies have shown several potential health benefits to eating sardines…A Harvard study found that consuming just one to two servings of sardines every week provides enough omega-3 fatty acids to reduce your chances of heart disease by more than one-third. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The potassium, magnesium, and zinc in sardines may help lower blood pressure while also improving your blood lipids.”2
Medical experts concur that consumption of sardines is also beneficial in healthy fetal development as well as helping to maintain the health of our brains, nerves, muscles, eye sight, bone strength, and aids in reducing inflammation.
I know you’re anxious to find out how in the world I’m going to spin this into a spiritual application, right? Well, here we go…
John 6:1-9 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. (2) And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. (3) And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. (4) And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. (5) When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (6) And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. (7) Philip answered him, Two hundred
pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. (8) One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, (9) There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
The Sea of Galilee is only about 60 miles from the Mediterranean sea. Guess what fish are commonly fished from these waters? Sardines. Do you suppose…is it possible that this boy had bread and sardines with him? The Bible doesn’t specify what kind of fish the boy has. It doesn’t say bass, trout, bluegill, catfish, or something else so why can’t it be sardines?
Jesus takes the little key on the tin can, peels it back, gave thanks and distributed the food to the disciples who then gave it to the people. The bread and sardine dinner stretched to all of the people and there were even 12 baskets of leftovers!
Okay, I know the Lord didn’t have one of those sardine tins. But, just imagining this puts a smile on my face. Regardless of the type of fish, God did a great miracle, showing His love and compassion for these hungry people. He fed their souls and tended to their physical needs as well.
What a great reminder that we can – and should – do both. Jesus put some sandal-leather to His teachings, demonstrating His love for humanity and making His preaching/teaching come alive. Can we do that today?
1 John 3:18 reminds us, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
1https://www.marthastewart.com/how-to-eat-sardines-8628668
2https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-sardines
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
