We've certainly had the weather extremes here in Michigan! One day this week it was 85 degrees and humid and the next day in the low 60's, chilly and damp. We've gone from frost at night to summer weather and nearly back again in just a few short days. Today we had a lovely, even temperatured May day. I hung two or three loads of laundry out on the line and the stiff breeze dried things quickly. But the last load to go out was retrieved just before a few sprinkles hit. The sky became very dark, covered with clouds that reminded me of a blanket. It grew a bit chilly and I thought we were in for some major rain and weather change. Just about then Clint and I were heading to Three Rivers for dinner to use up some gift certificates and do a little grocery shopping. By the time we got there, the sun was shining and the weather looking very pleasant again. Amazing. Everyone in Michigan always says, 'if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes; it will change!' How true that's been lately!
I was finishing my house cleaning this morning as usual for a Friday. After I got a few chores done I decided to make time to go put out some perennials for sale by the road. There were more garage sales down our road and on the roads close by so I thought today was a good day to offer plants for sale. I potted up a few of things like various groundcovers, yarrow, daisies, a rose, etc. I also put out a basket of hollyhock seeds tied up in little sandwich bags. After most of the chores were done Mom and I went to meet Rhiannon for lunch. By the time we got back, I noticed that several plants were gone, so I checked my "donation" box. Some generous person left me $8 for seeds and plants! I was thrilled! Wow, all that for just a little work--work that I enjoy, no less! The plants would have just had to be thrown out or I'd have had to hunt to find more spaces for them. These were all plants that had multiplied out of control and were overrunning their boundaries throwing out all kinds of shoots. So I felt like that was a pretty good return on excess plants. I have saved the little plastic pots that I buy perennials and even annuals in for the last several years in anticipation of selling plants. Now all those excess plastic pots sitting in the barn are proving valuable.
I noticed other people today had plants out for sale. Maybe this is a trend. Most folks price theirs, but I feel it's easier to trust folks for a donation. That way I can pot starts of all different sizes and not feel I have to make many different price calculations or leave change out for people. It works really well. A few years ago I really made a lot of money using the same method and putting extra garden veggies and fruit out. People are usually very generous and I've not had any trouble that I know of with anyone taking the money that is left out there.
I was glad to find a few grocery bargains tonight. For all of you who like convenience, how about creating a little of your own? I've been canning beef ever since Clint's grandmother showed me how to do it years ago. I watch for sales on round steak and buy about 12 -15 pounds of it when it's lower priced. I trim off the fat and cut it in little cubes. It's easy to can in the pressure cooker and then we have already-cooked meat that can be made into casseroles, beef and noodles, barbequed beef for sandwiches, etc. It's been a great time saver for me on many occasions. It makes its own wonderful juice right in the can and that can be used for gravy. Rhiannon just informed me the other day that we were running low on canned beef and I should watch for a sale. Well, tonight I found some. It went in the freezer and when I see another sale, I'll add to it again. Then when there's enough I'll can it in pints. I can fit 18 pints in my pressure cooker and that's alot of little meals! it's really not much work and the convenience is great. I sometimes like to just put things in the freezer for time's sake, but if we ever were to lose power for a period of time, much can be lost in a freezer. The canned goods will weather nearly any type of unforseen conditions! So it's nice to have a little store of both canned and frozen items.
Well, that's my encouragement for the day, but what does that have to do with anything of lasting spiritual value? While I thought of these things that characterized my day, I am reminded that just doing the everyday tasks has spiritual value. After all in Proverbs 31, the chapter we ladies are all so familiar with, the virtuous woman was doing everyday tasks and being called virtuous because of it! This woman is described as "bringing her food from afar," (verse14). She also provides enough food for her household and all her maidens (servant girls?), (verse 15). Provision and preparation of food is a major task she involves herself in. Permit me a little side note here--I mentioned going to a funeral yesterday. My husband has pastored for 17 years and in those years he has done an amazing amount of funeral services--about 74! I have noticed that people are often eulogized with remembrances of food they served. Yes, it's true! People love to get together and eat and I've heard praises given for moms who cooked for the family, grandpas and uncles who grilled chicken, etc. This happens over and over! Food is a unifying factor helping to create times of quality fellowship in families, friends, and churches. So, it stands to reason that a very virtuous quality for a woman is to involve herself in food selection and preparation. I have to admit that's a hard one for me. I'm not the greatest cook and I have to sort of force myself to plan for meals and then cook them. I much prefer the ideas in verse 13, "she seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands," or verse 22, "she makes tapestry for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple," and verse 24,"she makes linen garments and sells them and supplies sashes for the merchants." Well, we all have our specialities!
Another intersting verse in this chapter says, "She considers a fields and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard," (verse 16). I was thinking about that today after $8 came in for excess plants. I hurried to dig up some more to sell with verse 16 frequently running through my head, "she sees a field...." I sometimes think we need to be looking for those little opportunities, especially in this economy both to save and to earn.
So much more could be said about this lovely chapter. It holds so much wisdom in every verse. I am challenged by it. Some verses are easier to live out than others. When I take the time to remember its admonitions, my daily tasks seem less mundane and I can sometimes look at them with a fresher perspective and realize they are of spiritual value even though it might be the same task I did yesterday and last week and every other week of my married life (like dusting!). The simple truth is that if no one does those mundane things, life is less pleasant for the family or even harder. For instance, what if everyone was so busy being "spiritual" that the laundry never got done? No one would have clean clothes. It's a no-brainer. Yes, there's lasting value in the simple chores of a household. I hope this is an encouragement to someone today. Blessings, LORI
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