Several weeks ago I received an email from a woman who found my blog and liked it. She asked me a question that has had my mind going ever since. Her question went something like this - Do you feel that, as a Christian woman, spending so much time in the kitchen cooking is the best use of your time?
...as a Christian woman. I couldn't get this phrase out of my thoughts! At first I felt a little defensive. Of course it's a good use of my time. I'm serving my family and making sure that my kids grow up healthy and strong so they can, in turn, be good Christians. Then my thoughts turned to Christmas 2010.
Christmas 2010 I received an early present that changed my life. The gift was a small accident that left me hardly able to walk! How can this be a gift, you ask? Well, it MADE me stop! I had to lay around a lot and recover. I didn't make any treats for neighbors or for parties. I didn't make any treats at all, to tell the truth. The local Costco took care of all my baking! I watched movies with my kids, played board games for hours, spent time with family and rested. It was the most enjoyable Christmas I've had in a long time and it opened my eyes!
After much deliberation, my answer to that reader's question is no, I do not think that, as a Christan woman, spending huge amounts of time in the kitchen is the best use of my time. It feels good to say it!!
I have done a lot of re-evaluating over the last few months. I believe strongly in the principles of proper food preparation. I know I feel better when my food is soaked and fermented. I also know that God has a great work for me to do, and that if my time is eaten up preparing the things we are going to eat up, then things are off balance.
As a Christian woman I need to have time to spend with my children and my husband, visit the sick and needy, provide service to my neighbors, and take care of my personal spiritual needs. I also need to have time to cook nourishing food for my family. Balance is the key word. Will my kids look back and remember how much time I spent playing and learning with them, or will they remember that I was too busy to play because I was always in the kitchen. Will they remember all the perfectly soaked grains I fed them, or will they remember the time I spent with them?
I wish the next part of this post was full of all the great ideas I have about how to accomplish this balance! It's not! I'm working on that part. I'd love to hear your ideas. I know this balance can be achieved and I'm excited to start this new journey! Want to join me?
Tara, I enjoyed reading your thoughts. I agree with you 100%. The key is finding moderation in all things. I have known people that were so into preparedness that everything else went out the window, including most of their income. I think that sometimes when we feel passionately about something, and especially when we know it would benefit others, it can consume so much of our time. I applaud you on all you have learned in providing good healthy food for your family. They will always be blessed by your knowledge. It will be fun to watch you explore your new direction. I've always wanted to provide good food for my family. The problem is I really do not like cooking. It is total chore, not enjoyable in the least. I don't know if that will ever change, probably cause I don't care enough to want to change it. But, there are things I really enjoy doing, and I could spend all my time doing them. I have to really remember the moderation in all things, or I can go overboard in them. Isn't life fun. We learn new things all the time. (Karen Evans)
ReplyDeleteWhat I really loved about this post is your thoughtful response to what could have been taken defensively --you took the question to heart, pondered, then came to a conclusion regarding your own live and priorities. It says a lot about your character.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tara, for this insightful post. You are right. I wish you success on your quest. If you keep trying and keep praying, I know you'll have success.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking the same things. I want to feed my family healthy food but don't want to spend all day in the kitchen. I recently remembered being on my mission in Canada. I served in one area where a lot of the members lived on what were called "acreges." They were like small farms.
Every time we went to one of these members' houses, they would feed us a meal that had about ten vegetables laid out as side dishes. They were usually just washed and cut up and served raw or lightly steamed and seasoned. They were soooo good. They would usually serve one other dish with the vegetables but I can't remember any of these other dishes. I just loved those garden fresh veggies.
I was remembering that recently as I was pondering myself on quick healthy meals. I thought I'd pass it on to you after reading this post. It might give you some ideas that would work for you.