In our basement there is a wall covered with shelves to hold jars of canned goods. I always think it looks cheerful with rows and rows of an assortment of food and on the end of one shelf a lonely jar of blackberries have been waiting until I decide to use them. They were left untouched for quite a while since I knew as soon as I use them we will officially be out of blackberries.
Several weeks ago they made their way from the shelf in the basement to the refrigerator in the kitchen where I again waited a while before actually using them.
LV loves blackberry pie so last week I finally opened that jar of blackberries and poured them into a saucepan and proceeded to make pie filling. The children were all looking forward to having pie once again and while the filling was cooling I made the pie dough.
As I fitted the dough into a pie pan I was bombarded by all sorts of pie wishes from the children. Sailor thought I should go ahead and make his favorite savory pie and a pumpkin pie. Rosebud thought a peach pie or my cherry cheesecake pie would be great. While Sunbeam was sure nothing would be as good an oatmeal pie.
While all their requests were valid points I had only enough pie dough to make the blackberry pie and I took the opportunity to teach them a little life lesson.
If I would have started out with the blackberry pie and added other ingredients every time someone said what they think would be great I would have ended up with something no one would have liked.
Much like life. If we try to please everyone we will ultimately please no one. If we pattern our life after God's will we don't need to worry what anyone thinks. Though they might think we should be doing this or that, if we stay true to our calling the end results will be something everyone will recognize as a good thing. Just like the blackberry pie. Though not every one's favorite at the end everyone could enjoy a beautiful piece of pie.
A great life lesson!
ReplyDeleteIsn't using up the last of a particular type of canned or bottled food stuff a bitter sweet thing?
I saw the difference in approach to life my two children had when we made the last of our gooseberries into a fool one year. Hannah was upset that all the fruit she'd helped to harvest and store was gone. Jacob, always one to look on the bright side of life, decided he was glad to see them used up because it meant we weren't being wasteful and it must also mean that it would soon be the right time of year to go out and pick more. They made a very long list of all the things they could look forward to and in which month it would come. It is amazing how much pleasure children get from anticipation - almost as much as from enjoying the occaision or food when it arrives!
What a great lesson!
ReplyDeleteLisa :O)
I just love your cleverness in seizing the most opportune moments to share value and meaning with your children. I find myself inspired by your and often learning from you.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Mrs.B
Great lesson!
ReplyDeleteIndeed! You can't please everyone.
ReplyDeleteExcellent!
ReplyDeleteGreat lesson for your children and the pie sounds delicious. thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteIsn't awesome how He provides lessons throughout our every day life - hour by hour as we spend time with Him. His little lessons always reinforce the big ones:
ReplyDeleteMaster, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)
Well put! I love when things we're doing as moms can turn into teachable moments. ♥ Hope the pie was good - it sounds like it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful lesson! I so needed to be reminded about following God's calling for my life in the midst of others' opinions. In the end, the only opinion that matters is God's!
ReplyDeleteIn celebration of my 3rd year and 300th post, you are invited to enter my anniversary give-a-way. Please hurry, the drawing will be held on Friday, June 1, 2012.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Mrs.B
A life lesson for me as well and one I needed to hear. Thank you. When I worry too much about others opinions and not what the Master wants of me, life just becomes a jumbled up mess.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy