I was doing some organizing in my kitchen a few days ago and realized that I have A LOT of cookbooks for someone who makes the same seven meals on repeat. I have a cabinet full of PTA cookbooks and church cookbooks and family cookbooks and Betty Crocker cookbooks. If you looked at my collection without knowing me, you’d figure I was a regular old Martha Stewart.
I am not.
My criteria for recipes has two parts: 1) is it quick to prepare? 2) Is it easy to clean up? If it meets those guidelines, regardless of how it tastes, it’s a winner in my book. I’ve whittled down my actual, used recipe collection to the bare minimum.The ones we use regularly, I could prepare in my sleep. There is not a lot of branching out or growth in my culinary journey. It turns out, owning cookbooks does not a cook make. One must actually read the cookbooks AND THEN do the things in them.
It’s one thing to read about mincing garlic and dicing onions and broiling roasts. It’s a whole other thing to actually do it. I can read all day about poaching and searing and frying but unless I make a plan and buy the ingredients and make myself do it, all I’ve done is fill my head with great ideas that never come to fruition.
For years now, I’ve been in the habit of doing daily scripture writing. In a nutshell, I print out a monthly plan and spend a few minutes each day copying scripture into a notebook and hopefully, imprinting it on my heart. This month’s topic has been Kindness. I’ve loved the reminders to love others, to be kind to my fellow man, even (especially) my enemies. It is encouraging for me to see how much space the scriptures give to the topic of kindness and love. It turns out though, writing scriptures about kindness does not a kind person make. One must actually DO THE THINGS.
*slaps face*
It’s one thing to read and write scripture about praying for my enemies and going the extra mile and turning the other cheek. It’s a whole other thing to actually put those ideas into practice. I can read and write and ponder and memorize scripture, but unless I am willing to put into practice the concepts I’m learning about, I’m pretty sure I’m missing the mark.
And so, I’m probably going to purge my cookbook collection. No need to hang on to those since I’m pretty confident that I’m not going to be using them anytime soon. However, I’m not giving up on my scripture writing. I’m just going to be more deliberate about doing more than just writing the words, I’m going to challenge myself to look for opportunities each day to put into practice the things I’m reading and writing. I hope to branch out and see growth in my spiritual journey. And I’ll feed my family grilled cheese and/or spaghetti while doing it.
Read more of Abbie Mabary’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
