Embracing Your Kitchens True Gifts

Kitchens are for uniting loved ones

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate .”

— Aland D. Wolfelt

My love language is food. How about yours? Cooking is a delightful recharge for my spirit.

Although shopping for groceries during these times, I could leave, but everything else about it I love.

I consider my passion for cooking a true gift. My grandma was an extraordinary cook. If I close my eyes, I can smell her freshly baked cinnamon rolls. I feel she willed this gift to me, which I genuinely treasure. Therefore, I believe it’s my inherent responsibility to pass it down to my family someday.

Honestly, I love to cook for others as an expression of my love. During my chemotherapy treatments, I even tried to continue to cook some. It was very challenging at times because of the horrible fatigue. I was determined to just do it because I didn’t want breast cancer to rob me of this gift.

Now that I’m cancer-free, I must pass the torch on, so to say. I’m not giving it up yet, but I really would love for either my son, daughter, or grandson to inherit the passion for cooking. I don’t know if my grandma felt this way, but I’m just putting it out there.

Cooking and smelling those delicious aromas bring everyone a little closer. Think about the biggest food holiday of the year, Thanksgiving.

Don’t we all crave those beautiful times with family and friends, almost more than the turkey? It’s a time to gather and love each other. It’s an opportunity to share our attributes and affections towards one another.

How can we share the gift of cooking with others so that every day could feel more like Thanksgiving? But without entirely as much food.

“Nearly everyone wants at least one outstanding meal a day.”

– Duncan Hines

Mealtimes

Family is a gift! Everyone’s mealtimes look different. What does yours look like? Are you always scrambling to get a meal on the table for everyone because of your busy schedules? Is your table full of people and food? Is your table used as a catch-all instead of a nice place to eat?

Perhaps you are mourning an empty seat at the table from a loved one who has passed away, or you’re wondering how you will ever make room for another child at that small table.

Perhaps you find yourself alone after always having someone around. Maybe, mealtimes are challenging because you struggle with self-control.

Life throws us into situations that we don’t always see coming. Our days here on earth are short. Tragedy and hardships can happen at any time that could change our lives forever.

How can we make sure not to take things for granted? Learning how to embrace change is challenging. How can you cope when you might be dealing with a sickness, divorce, death, or even addiction?

Have you heard that we really need to be content wherever we are in life? Some of the above situations are harder to handle than others. However, we can all count our blessings at the table no matter your circumstances?

So, when is the last time besides maybe on Thanksgiving when you recognized what you are grateful for?

I think the world has a way of showing us what we do have in our lives, but we first have to stop looking at what we don’t have long enough to see them.

Here are three ideas to get you started:

• Family: Whether at that crowded table or with those in spirit. Either in heaven or living away from you, perhaps thinking about how those people enriched your life if they are not still with you. I know it’s hard but thinking about what you are grateful for is important for your overall well-being. Make an effort to stop taking the family for granted.
• Alone: Quiet time is the best if you don’t ever get it. However, if you feel lonely, perhaps being thankful for your alone time might be challenging, but being grateful for music could be a game-changer. Go ahead and turn some music on. Close those blinds just in case you decide to work off those calories by dancing.
• Table: Be thankful for your table. Even if it is a catch-all, if it’s your own junk, perhaps you might challenge yourself to clean it up. If it’s someone else’s stuff, perhaps you would miss it if they weren’t in your life anymore. Whatever your situation might be, looking for ways to be thankful is important. Keep in mind — some people might not even have a table or food.

There are so many benefits of gratitude. Meal times are a true blessing. Please enjoy a wonderful meal for yourself full of self-love, maybe even prayer, and tons of appreciation.

“If you can’t eat it, you don’t need it.”

– Mary Therrien (author’s mom)

Traditions

Traditions can be anything worth getting repeated. It’s the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.

When it comes to food, it’s those dishes that get asked for over and over again. You know those that if you walked into someone else’s house without it, they would make you go home and get it.

For me, it means my mom’s corn pudding surprise. However, this year will be different.

My mom had two mini-strokes about nineteen months ago, leaving her with some loss of eyesight, which has impacted her cooking significantly. She asked me if I could cook it this year.

However, I thought it was an excellent opportunity for my son to step in. I asked him what he thought, and he has agreed to take on the honors.

What are some of your favorite traditions? Do you go around the table counting your blessings? Think about if you started doing it just once a day at breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You would have 365 blessings by next year. What if you did it at all three meals per day? You would have an astounding 1,095 blessings in just one year.

“Bake the world a sweeter place.”

– Origin Unknown

Gifts

Have you ever been given a jar filled with the most delicious fudge? If you have, then you will never forget it like me. It just melted on my tongue. Honestly, I didn’t even realize I loved fudge until that first bite.

Those homemade gifts are the best. It’s those gifts that people cherish and remember.

Giving food shouldn’t only be during the holidays. There are many opportunities throughout the year. It’s a great gift when someone is sick or recovering from surgery. Did someone you know just have a baby?

These are just a couple of ideas with some creative thinking. I bet you could think of someone you could be a blessing.

Perhaps this year, you might start a new tradition of baking various cookies; as gifts for your loved ones, neighbors, or even co-workers.

From my kitchen to yours

The act of cooking is a true gift and blessing all in one. Spread some joy by embracing those talents within yourself.

Turn on the oven and pour yourself into those recipes. Be the host or hostess that brings love wherever you go.

Meet yourself wherever you are on this journey of life. Stop and smell the wonders of your warm, loving kitchen; while filling your plate with something delicious and your heart with gratitude.

I’m writing this as a thank you to God for my gift of cooking for others. I’m thankful for our family gathering this Thanksgiving and every day.

I’m also thankful for Trista Signe Ainsworth and her gifts in the kitchen as well. She is a true inspiration. She is a top writer in cooking with an amazing publication, Thank You Notes.

Trista shared this story about being a top writer in food:

Trista is a lot of fun and shares a writing theme for motivation. This week is about sharing your delightful recharge:

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