New Pots and Old Wives

Recently in preparation for a bridal shower at church, I was appointed to pick up the hostess gift. The agreed upon choice was a new cookware set by Wolfgang Puck. All the ladies raved how wonderful this set was. I picked it up and set it in my kitchen, near the door to take to the bridal shower which was in just a few days.

This box drew my eye each time I passed it. It's new, updated and improved styles were glaringly different from my cookware stemming from over 20 years of marriage. This new set was shiny, complete and wonderful! As I would pull out my cookware (mismatched, scratched, stained and dented) to prepare dinner, I would glance at the box on the floor with a little bit of envy!

Knowing that thankfulness is the answer to discontentment, I began to ponder when I was a new wife and the blessings God has given through the years. Those old pots and pans with their scratches hold dear memories of cooking for a family, taking food dishes to church and family gatherings. The marks they hold stand for tried and true use.

I began to think and remember about being a 'new bride' and now that I am an 'older bride' the journey and roads traveled hold dear memories and valuable lessons. There is such a richness in looking back and seeing where God has brought us.

Then....you won't believe this. Right before the church bridal shower where the bride would receive these pots, she had another shower. Guess what one of the gifts was???? Yep, a new cookware set!! Since I paid upfront for the gift, I could now keep it!!! So now, months later, the box sits in a bedroom waiting to be opened! I'm working on sorting through the old cookware since there isn't room for both sets and I'm having a hard time letting go of my favorites!!

Learn from the old and love the new! Take the best from where we've been, but don't be afraid to embrace the new. That's what happened when I read this line from our new bride's blog: "Marriage is not tough to me like everybody said it would be. It is just something I have to get used to. It isn't all about me anymore or what I want, it's about pleasing him and making him happy. If he is proud of me at the end of the day, that makes me happy, so it is a win-win situation.

What I learned thus far-
Marriage is a never ending learning cycle."

Wouldn't that new, fresh attitude bring a spark of life into an older marriage?

Top 10 Workout DVDs

Prevention Magazine is a leader in health and fitness news and products. They recently came up with the top 10 list of workout DVDs. They have examined the many fitness DVDs out there and narrowed down a list of the best ones. There is a DVD for every fitness level. If you are looking to incorporate some exercise into your day in the convenience of your own home, take a look at this list. Here is an additional money saving tip: If you see a DVD that you are interested in, check out Amazon or Ebay before ordering. Many times they have pre-owned DVDs at a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Sometimes We Score, Sometimes We Block

Our family is in the midst of little league soccer season. My youngest son is playing and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is pretty good at the sport, but what makes it so great is that he loves it! He counts the days until the next game or practice. He loves his coach and teammates. He has moved up an age level this year and the players are working more like team, passing to each other and watching out for each other during play. During the last game, my son scored two goals, they were the only goals of the game. In today's game the team scored eight goals. My son came up afterwards to me and said, "I didn't score today, but I blocked". What a powerful truth those words can hold. In life, sometimes we score, sometimes we block. Sometimes we do great things, we excel, we achieve, we meet our goal - we score! There are also times we see the needs of others, sometimes they are sad or hurting, we block their hits. We look out for them so they can score. We...

Word Filled Wednesday – Act Justly

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 Sometimes we struggle so hard with the question “What does God want us to do and be?” This verse is a simple yet powerful reminder of some simple things that God requires of us. Act and do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God. There are numerous opportunities each day to do justly, to do the right thing or to make the right choice. We love mercy when we show kindness or mercy oftentimes to those who do not deserve it. Walking humbly before God is acknowledging He alone is God. He is the I AM – no one else is. When we give Him the glory He is worthy of, it will humble our heart before Him....

AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 12:14 PM
As much as I also drooled over the thought of new pots and pans that weren't scratched and dented, I have to honestly admit, I'm kinda' like those kettles now. I don't look the same and I'm not as useful, slowing down some, but I wouldn't trade experience for shine anyday. I love growing old with my spouse.

May the bride's shiny new kettles and the bloom of her youth both age with faith, true love and tremendous blessing!
Miss DebbieFebruary 9, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Thoughtful post! Hope you enjoy your new cookware...when you start using it! :-)

Joyfull Living

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