If you’ve heard this expression before, you will know this to be true. A way to a man’s heart is by making him – tapioca pudding. Well, the saying really says “through his stomach,” but on these days, that saying does not apply to Dave.

Our life right now is all about soft foods, like tapioca pudding. Most of you know that Dave chooses extremely healthy foods. He opts for a fresh piece of fruit or vegetables over most any sweet delectable. I, on the other hand, insist that chocolate comes from a plant.

“Chocolate comes from cocoa, which is a tree. That makes it a plant. Chocolate is salad.”

I imagine chocolate could be mixed in with tapioca pudding, but I actually haven’t tried that yet. Instead, I make this dessert just the way he likes it. Now if you’ve ever made this pudding, you know it takes forever. The fluffy recipe calls for whipped egg whites that seem to take longer to make than my bed – times 10. As the egg white mixture stands with pointy peaks, I bring the remaining ingredients to a rolling boil, stirring the entire time. Just when I think it is almost boiling, I realize it’s only halfway done. Last week I made it, and I watched a full episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” I just stood there stirring and laughing because the show is pretty funny.

What’s not as humorous is how long Dave has been eating soft foods. We are going on almost four weeks now that the mucositis still effects his mouth, ears, throat and esophagus. Healing has been a very slow process, seemingly taking forever – much like making tapioca pudding. Just when we think we detect healing in his mouth, new sores emerge.

There is wisdom in purchasing tapioca pudding from the grocery store. It is so much quicker, but it is not quite as delicious as homemade. Likewise, I’m sure mucositis will heal in good time. Dave’s appetite will return, and he will eat everything in sight. Until then, we pray with all of our heart that He is cooking up something special for all of us. Complete healing.