Tag Archives: food

WHAT’S TUCKED AWAY IN YOUR PANTRY?

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“For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory”. (Psalm 149: 4)

I’ve been thinking a lot about pride and humility often the past several days, especially as I continue to take in current events around the globe and in our nation. It seems strife and evil are prevailing in countries far away and close to home, too. Thinking or dwelling on what headlines are telling me is overwhelming, yet I don’t want to ignore the seriousness of any upheavals. So, although I am only one person, I find solace in praying for peace, asking God to intervene to protect the innocents, and raising up leaders of nations who are willing to lead in humility versus pride fed by egos and selfish ambition. Honestly, I think that’s a very tall order to hope for but I know all things are possible with God. But, writing about the woes of our world isn’t my focal point today. Setting that aside I want to visit a sweet memory belonging to my Grandma Jewell who often exemplified humility .

Imagine that you’re living on a small family farm during the depression years and waste–especially regarding food–was something as a homemaker you gave careful attention to avoiding. Tending your garden of vegetables, nurturing berry bushes you grew or foraging in nearby woods, you created jams, jellies, canned vegetables in a root cellar. Jars of mincemeat lined shelves waiting to layer between pie crusts.  Maybe your family owned one or two cows for milking from which you churned your own butter from the luscious cream. You realized, however, that although pantry foods will help get you through another year feeding a growing family of 11 children, the cows may stop producing in harsh winter months, the barn too cold for them I’ve been told. Your source for butter has run out, causing you to find alternative spreads for morning toast or evening’s biscuits.

Dad told me years ago the family entertained a male guest one evening. He joined them for supper. I don’t remember what grandma served–probably chicken from one of the farm’s donors–vegetables from her pantry, potatoes from the root cellar and either homemade bread or biscuits. But she didn’t have any butter. She knew she had a huge bowl of pumpkin butter in the pantry, but she was too embarrassed to include it in the meal.

Polite dinner conversation filled her kitchen and as the evening progressed everyone began sharing memories and favorite things they liked. Lo and behold “Mr. Dinner Guest” declared “you know what I have missed for a LONG time?–pumpkin butter! Haven’t had it in years”. That’s all it took for a loving memory to push aside grandma’s fears and shame of not being able to offer her guest proper “butter”….dad said she stood up and in her well known sweet voice said “well, you just wait now, I’ll be right back”. She returned with her huge bowl of homemade pumpkin butter and set it smack dab in front of her house guest, beaming with joy as fearful pride faded from her spirit, now turned into a gesture of humility, giving way to delight this man’s tastebud memory!

I’m pretty sure the pumpkin she used to make the butter came from her own garden patch or maybe from a neighbor. It doesn’t really matter. Her ability to make the spread came from years of being frugal and creativity preparing meals for the family. The bounty she was able to collect from foraging, growing, and collecting were covered in prayers, too,  that often lasted into nighttime hours when her family was fast asleep.

I’ve never made pumpkin butter but I think I’ll give it a try. The ingredients aren’t too difficult to gather. I won’t have to forage for them. I actually have pumpkin in my freezer that I cooked and froze last fall. When I get around to making a batch, I will imagine my grandmother making hers–did she still have her wood stove at the time of this story? Did she save the seeds from the fruit of her pumpkins and roast them? Something tells me she did. Because grandma didn’t waste anything that could feed her family…or an evening houseguest the Lord knew she needed for reassurance there’s no shame when the cows aren’t producing the milk you rely on for regular butter.

LESSONS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

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Happy anniversary to me!

In what seems like a whirlwind swirling through the past 12 years of my life, I am marking two decades of writing my personal blog, which is now being featured weekly in the ‘News & Views’. I am grateful for personal satisfaction I receive in the expression of written words as well as being given an audience in the paper’s readership. Both experiences have been paths I would not have considered showing up in the landscape of my life.

During these past years, sitting down each week to write, I’ve had numerous “a-ha” topics come to mind, making my task easy to complete. Admittedly, there have been mornings where my thoughts are stuck. I feel dry and empty sitting at my laptop, asking myself “what shall I write about this week?” Some call it writer’s block. Such spells can often be described as a “dry patch”. I have endured both afflictions, yet neither of them has devoured my ability to “pen” something that I feel is worthy of a “job well done”. Most weeks, when I struggle to hone in on a topic worthwhile of writing about, my go-to source has been to ask God…”what would YOU have me write about today, Father. What can I say to encourage someone today or cause them to smile and even provoke a hearty laugh?” Never to my surprise, He has been faithful to answer.

Today, God has been showing me small lessons from the birds who visit our pan of birdseed. We have resorted to using a cake pan to hold the seed, as several bird feeders have been either destroyed or stolen–maybe a crafty racoon? Fortunately, we’ve not lost the pan; it has survived weeks of cold or rainy days.

When the pan is empty, I have observed the numerous birds sitting on the deck railing, waiting for their morning meal. Sometimes they perch in a nearby pine tree and swarm the pan when we fill it. We’ve got our share of sparrows, juncos, morning doves, and blue jays who compete for a “seat the table”. Vying for a turn to feast on the mixture of seeds is our resident squirrel who plops his or her plump body smack dab in the middle of the pan, choosing the sunflower seeds, tossing aside the shells which are now strewed over the deck. We’ve even had a chipmunk or two enjoy a turn dining. Watching them dart back and forth competing with our fine feathered friends is always a source of laughter for me.

When I take time to watch the feeding frenzy our beloved creatures create, I soon realize that in their need to eat, to survive, there’s a bit of competition and chaos. The Blue Jays are the most aggressive; the morning doves seem the most docile. What they lack in aggression, is made up in their own sizable bodies to dominate the seed by sitting on top of it as though perched in a nest. 

Then there are what I refer to as “dive bombers”. These are the fellas who come in from the safety of the neighbor’s shrubs, swooping in to take over our small country buffet. Their fast approach and crash landing antics cause all others to quickly scramble. Until all bellies are full, this is a cycle I’ve seen continue for several hours.

One small baking pan of birdseed may seem insignificant as we do our part to feed the birds who remain with us during Michigan’s cold winter months. Yet, I’m confident even our small efforts are producing great results for all who rely on the pan being on the table for them, filled every morning for their delight.

So, a question to God…what do I write today?…a small pan of birdseed. Small amounts of common birdseed and witnessing the ability to provide for small beautiful creatures provide me with an example of God’s love and faithfulness to me, too.

Sometimes I come to Him in a fast swoop, too. There are mornings I have the gift of leisurely time to “sit in the middle of God’s Word” and feast on His promises. The difference for me in comparison to our little outside creatures is that I do not need to worry about competing for God’s presence or feeling satisfied from His provision.

God is able to meet all needs. He does this for everyone who comes to Him, all who are hungry or thirsty. And He does it every day without slumber or sleep. His riches and glory are never ending. And I like to imagine Him smiling and laughing at me when I come to Him frantically, or waiting with arms out wide to hug me as a child needing comfort and safety.

GOOD & PERFECT GIFTS

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Here we are in mid November, actually closing in with December’s arrival in a matter of days following our national holiday Thanksgiving. Holidays can trigger all kinds of emotions, not all of them warm and fuzzy. Some of us grew up in families that looked forward to being together around a festive table laden with delicious food, bantering conversations…all the things that create fond memories. Sadly, some of us grew up in homes that were full of dysfunction, brokenness, arguing…angry families unwilling to reconcile relationships. If you fall into one of those two categories, I am happy for your good memories. If the latter describes your childhood, I am truly sorry. The good news is this–merely because your childhood home was one of bad memories doesn’t mean you need to continue on that path.

My Grandpa Jewell was an angry man for the first 55 years of his life. While I can understand some of his reasons for his anger, it’s also an example of not allowing circumstances to be made into an “excuse” and setting a course for all of life ahead. Though the details are blurry for me,  I was told that when he and grandma married, returned from their honeymoon, their meager belongings were packed, placed on the porch of the Jewell family home that he expected to inherit, accompanied by the declaration that “the farm is being given to your sister Clara and her husband”. In the time it took to even breathe during that conversation, their entire future looked bleak. Can I blame my grandfather for becoming angry and embittered? 

Grandpa’s resentments, anger, and bitterness were woven into over 30 years of moving from several places in Michigan, farming, working for others and even trying his hand at owning a small business which failed miserably. In those 30 years 11 children came along. Older ones married. The boys enlisted in armed forces which took several off to war battles around the world. In the meantime grandma was steadfast in her faith, persevering in prayer for provision and salvation for her husband. 

God always provided somehow. What He did for her He will do for you and me, too. There always seemed to be “just enough” food and salvation came to grandpa when he was 55 years old.

Thanksgiving is the first opportunity in the holiday season where generosity becomes front and center in peoples’ minds. We begin to look for ways we can help someone less fortunate enjoy all that Thanksgiving and Christmas entail. In today’s current economy, sadly there are many families in need. We don’t need to look very far to find who we can help. Families and individuals are in our neighborhood, workplace, church, on your kids’ sports teams, their classrooms…all which we call community.

I’m thankful we have organizations in our community that help families. I’m grateful for the generosity I see in my own church family as we come alongside families struggling to make ends meet. These loving actions remind me of those times my parents willingly helped deliver Thanksgiving meals to families in the neighborhood that surrounded our church in Downtown Saginaw. I also recall an older memory, being told that a neighbor told my grandpa about free food he could get that was provided by the federal government. His stubborn pride kept him from going to the location that housed the goods and when he DID bring canned foods home,  he insisted they be kept in the pantry for awhile, as though opening the “first” one meant he had “lost” his will to be the main provider for hungry bellies.

As I said, I don’t know where Thanksgiving this year finds you. If you are well provided for with no worries, give thanks to the One Who has been generous towards you. If you are struggling and God sends someone asking if you need help, lay down fear or pride, and accept the generosity of others.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

Yes, God is the provider of ALL. He makes generosity possible through organizations, churches, individuals, food pantries … .may your Thanksgiving Day be one of bounty, fond memories, and opportunities to mend any brokenness in relationships.