Are We Allowed to Do That?
By Sarah J. Hauser @sarah.j.hauser
“Are we allowed to do that?” my husband, Colson, asks me. We’re in the car, driving back from, I don’t even remember where, when I get a text message from a woman at my church who coordinates meals for people when they’ve had a baby, surgery, or other hardship. Would you like us to set up a Meal Train for you while your husband recovers from surgery? “Why would we not be allowed?” I ask, setting the phone on my lap. I know what he means, though. Is our situation “hard enough” to warrant people cooking our dinners?
I hold off responding to the text. We’ve been the proud recipients of casseroles and pot roasts before. After each of my pregnancies, we received every meal with gratitude, not hesitating to grab a fork and thank the good Lord for the hands that prepared this dinner so we didn’t have to. When my mom passed away, my dad’s church provided more food than he could have possibly eaten. He received so many meals that we eventually had to turn some away because his deep freezer didn’t have an ounce of space left.
The Gift of Being Fed
Now, even though Colson needs surgery (on his Achilles, from a basketball injury, cue the are-we-really-that-old? jokes), we’re more or less fine. It’s annoying and inconvenient and even a little scary, but not, like, scary, scary. His heart, lungs, and all the other life sustaining organs are beating and breathing on schedule. Besides, I’m healthy, the kids are healthy, and he’s not totally bedridden. We’re functional enough. Others have it so much worse. We’re fine. It’s fine. We’ll be fine.
But what about the little things that make life harder? What about the broken dishwasher, the toddler who insists on helping with dinner, and the one-year-old who’s learning to walk and needs to be followed constantly? What about the car that needs to be fixed, the bags of mulch that need to be spread in the garden, and the garbage that won’t magically walk itself to the curb?
The Weight of Overwhelm
When I think about caring for my husband, our four children, our home, even my dog right now, the weight of overwhelm presses down on my shoulders. Not having to cook dinner? That’d be really nice. A few days later, Colson’s in bed, laptop in hand and leg elevated on a pillow. I refill his water bottle, stock the mini-fridge we put in our bedroom with yogurt and seltzer. He says thank you, noticing my frantic pace and stern face, and while I appreciate the gratitude, my countenance reveals how much I’m struggling to keep up with our life.
I head back downstairs to wash a few dishes, bemoaning the fact that our dishwasher is still broken, then pick up the spices the toddler has managed to take out of the pantry. As I put the paprika back, I run over toward the dog bowl to grab that same toddler I hear splashing in our pup’s water bowl. “What’s for dinner?” my oldest son asks. Then, of course not hearing her brother’s question, my daughter makes the same inquiry no less than three minutes later, followed by the same question, again, from the five-year-old another few minutes after that.
The Power of Gratitude
Each time I respond (with a little more annoyance at each repetition), “Friends from church are bringing us food tonight. Tacos I think. Isn’t that kind of them?” I’ve always wanted to teach my kids the value of gratitude, but now they watch us receive, and they learn from our example. Now, they see the benefit of kindness and generosity. Each night before food gets dropped off, we give a quick lecture on gratitude, and I remind them ever so gently that we don’t just receive food, we receive love and care from our community.
Pasta with Ground Turkey, Broccoli, and White Wine
Here’s a recipe that’s easy to make and perfect for a family dinner:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces pasta (such as penne or linguine)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add the ground turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add the broccoli florets and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the white wine and chicken broth, and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Stir in the dried basil and oregano, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, and toss to combine.
- Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
The Gift of Being Fed
As I look back on the past few weeks, I realize that the gift of being fed is not just about receiving food; it’s about receiving love and care from our community. It’s about understanding that we don’t have to do it all alone, that we can rely on others to support us in times of need. It’s about teaching our kids the value of gratitude and kindness, and showing them that even in the midst of chaos, there is always something to be thankful for.
So, the next time you’re asked if you’d like to set up a Meal Train or receive a meal from a friend, don’t hesitate to say yes. You never know how much a hot meal can mean to someone in need. And who knows? You might just find that the gift of being fed is the best gift of all.
