In a fallen world, hospitals are perplexing places. They can represent the very best of times, such as the birth of a child, and the very worst of times, as with the death of a loved one. Indeed, life and death are so often held in the palms of a simple hospital bed.
Where there are many dishes there are many mouths; many to love, serve, and provide for. And more than that, God delights to dirty those dishes day in and day out with all manner of provisions and patrons. Clean dishes are fine and well and good for decoration, but far better they be filled and dirtied with food, no matter how simple.