Cortney’s Great Procastinantion Epiphany
This weekend I had an epiphany. Call me slow, but let me tell you what happened (here is the background info). Stay with me here because this is going to be a long story but well worth it in the end:
I was cleaning out my freezers (I have my kitchen refrig/freezer but I also have a deep freezer in my garage. After weeks of stressing over my organization of these freezers I decided to clean them out (I think partly I chose Sunday because I really have packing and cleaning to do before vacation, and my procrastination self took over). After laughing, to the point of crying, with Tricia Saturday night over HOW MUCH food we still have from the previous months’ cooking days, I decided to take inventory. I still had 7 meals from the first month and literally ALL but 2 meals left from the second month. Plus about 10 pounds of meat that hadn’t been cooked yet! I am becoming a hoarder, Tricia is rubbing off on me! We have been making 2 frozen meals a day (one for lunch and one for dinner) for the past 3 days to try to get rid of some of them, since we are doing our Big Day for May before we leave on vacation.
So I am standing in my garage (the garage door was open – important info to remember), staring at ALL the food in my freezer, still in my pajamas with my bangs pulled back in a funky headband to keep my hair out of my eyes while cleaning, praying on how I could get rid of this food! When it hit me: Our next door neighbor is a single mom raising to tween boys. I absolutely love this family! They are always willing too help and this past year with both my boys keeping me busy, they have helped with our yardwork and playing with my boys and watching my dog when we go out of town (at a moments notice – on our way to Indy last month we realized we didn’t have any one watching our pets over the weekend – oops). Anyway, I thought I could unload share some of these meals on to them. She works full time as a nurse and sometimes has crazy hours and I know how much she could use these meals and it would benefit me too! It was a win-win situation all around!
So I am devising a plan on getting some meals to her, when I turn around and she is walking past my garage. Okay, I think, do I stop her right now because I look pretty darn hideous (remember the info from above) and she will think I have completely gone off the deep end? But I know this isn’t coincidence – it is God working here. So I swallowed my pride, called out her name, and went running toward her. I explained to her how I was desperate needed to get rid of some of these meals and that she has been so helpful to us these past few years that I wanted to let her pick from any meals that she wanted (as many as she wanted, hence the desperate). She looked at me for a moment with that “are you serious” look, but after she saw all the dinners, she agreed to take some off my hands.
Here is my epiphany (not really, I think truly that God was teaching me something!): My neighbor said something too me that I really hadn’t thought about since starting this blog with Tricia.
She said, “Cortney, you don’t know how hard it is trying to think up healthy easy meals to make for the boys when I work all day. Some days, we just make whatever we can find.” Okay, call me slow (actually probably more like self-involved) because I never thought about using this as a ministry in this way. How awesome would it be for some of us to make it a point to help single parents in this way. IF you love to cook, or have extra time and want to minister to others, this is a PERFECT outlet.
Meals can be such a wonderful ministry! We were SO grateful for those meals after the baby was born (and for some my mom made when I was in the throws of morning sickness). Thanks for the reminder, Cortney! Hope you’re in Florida by now!
Jessie
I actually did something similar. My sister just had a baby and I gave (unloaded) her some of the meals that I had in the freezer. In those first few days home from the hospital, they were ever so grateful to have something that they could just toss in the oven. She said it was probably the best baby gift that they received.
As a single mom I would like to say Thanks! I am lucky enough to have work hours that allow me to be home in plenty of time for dinner. But that was not always the case when my kids were small I worked crazy hours so we made many fast food trips for dinner. I wish I knew then what I know now.
MSheriff
xanga
Great story…you are exactly right!! It’s funny, I just heard Dave Ramsey(my hero) tell people on national radio if they want to help someone a single parent is a great place to start…he gave the statistics of how many single moms are living under th povertly level. I’ve been meaning to ask you a question…what does flash freezing mean?
Love it! God rocks! Hope you guys are having fun in FL. while your neighbor is enjoying your food here at home!
Nice epiphany isn’t it? LOL!! Now you can plan on having a few extras to pass her way. Happy for you and your neighbor!
Ok, so I’m new to your site, and I was impressed before, but now I’m HOOKED! Anyone with a heart for others like this convinces me that this is something I want to be a part of! I appreciate your transparency, and your efforts to make this a God-honoring tool. Please include me in any mailings you have, and let me know if there’s any way I can help spread the word! You blessed me today…
Thank you!
I completely agree. Thanks for sharing your epiphany!
I feel like your neighbor. I work full-time and have been praying about a way to make more nutritious meals. I am not a cook and literally could spend all day thinking about what to make and still not come up with something to cook. So we piece meal a lot. I was praying about two weeks ago and found your site. I just spent two evenings preparing the meals (sadly letting our 6 year old watch movies both nights). My husband is thrilled and now I don’t have to think about what to make. Thank you both for all the work that you do for this site. It is truly a ministry to me. Blessings to you both.
How wonderful! I do like to keep meals in the freezer just for an emergency for the families in the community. We also use them for ladies that have had a baby recently or family medical issues. You might could find a local food bank ministry that you can really help families in great need that way. Have fun! Serving with meals is so fantastic!
Yea! What a wonderful blessing for both of you! Have fun with this… it is such a joy to make meals for those in need.
About 9 years ago, I was a regular OAMCer. I was making meals for 2 adults, 3 voracious teen boys (and their friends who were around at dinner), and 2 growing boys as well as a pot luck every other weekend. I made it a habit to make a few small versions in addition to my big casseroles so I could easily increase the amount to feed 4 more.
Then, the rough week that will live in infamy arrived: tax return due, unexpected out of town visitors, senior neighbors sick, death at church, several senior couples at church sick. That was when I had my epiphany: I could still provide a meal for each of these situations by just getting all the smaller casseroles out and delivering them.
What a blessing to be able to be of service to others without cheating my family or neglecting other responsibilities!
I even had enough time to take care of some household chores for the ill, like laundry, dishes and watering plants.
We are now in a new state, new church and new season in our lives. I had forgotten about being a blessing in this way.
Thanks for reminding me… now to go plan a big cooking day so I can be prepared for an opportunity to be a blessing.
You’ve inspired me! Of course, I’ll have to convince them that I really am a better cook now and the food is edible! Before OAM Cooking, most people would have had their doubts – my neighbors have heard the smoke alarm/oven timer go off a few too many times pre-OAM days!! LOL