Thanksgiving Leftovers

I don't know about you, but I always double the recipes for our Thanksgiving meal. I like to have leftovers! I guess you could say I enjoy them as much as I do the actual meal - for different reasons. Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and gratitude. But, the weekend after Thanksgiving is devoted to the leftovers; and that's all about food!. I love talking about the recipes you typically only use with the turkey and dressing leftovers. My favorite is a casserole made with turkey, sour cream, cream of mushroom soup and dressing on top. My plan is to try a new recipe this year for Turkey Enchiladas. My point is that Thanksgiving Day is wonderful and special. But the days following can be special in terms of food. To me, the word "leftovers" does not have a negative meaning. It has a yummy meaning.

Here's another fact about me. I'm a quilter. I love working with fabric, cutting out a pattern, and sewing the pieces together to make a quilt. In my mind, quilts are a work of art. I know they are also a work of love. If you have ever pieced a quilt before, you know that there are always tons of scraps leftover from the original piece of fabric. True to character I suppose, the scraps are one of my favorite parts. The unexpected shapes and fabric pieces can be combined to make some of the most beautiful art quilts. One of my favorite styles of art quilts is a Crazy Patch. When you create a Crazy Patch quilt, you simply start with one little scrap and randomly add other scraps until you have a whole quilt. With this technique of quilting, one is never really sure of the outcome, you're only sure it's going to be a magical mosaic of color and shape; made out of scraps, no less.

If you are grieving the loss of someone you loved, perhaps you are looking at the rest of your life without them as "leftovers". Perhaps you feel as if your life has been left in oddly shaped scraps. While this may be true, the good news is that the rest of your life can still be beautiful. Imagine taking the leftovers of the world that you knew before and combining them to make a delicious new recipe. It is a different taste but still delicious. Think about the pile of scraps that used to be your existence. Do they look useless to you? Start picking them up, rearranging them. Stitch them together and see the beautiful quilt they can become. Then display your artwork with pride.

Dear friend, you don't have to do this alone. The Creator of all things colorful and delicious has promised to give you the power you need to accomplish this.

 ...and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3 NIV)

Making an excellent casserole from Thanksgiving leftovers or a magnificent Crazy Patch quilt from fabric scraps doesn't happen with a snap of the fingers. It takes evaluation of what you still have, some thought, and some planning. Prayer is essential. The process isn't fast, but is very rewarding. It is also very healing. So the question is, precious one of God, what are you going to do with your leftovers?

Journaling Ideas

1. What feelings have you experiences this Thanksgiving week?

2. What dream for your life would you like to come true?

3. What is stopping you from moving forward with your life?

4. What beauty has God created from the ashes of your life?

5. How can you reach out to someone else this Holiday season?

Your Grieving Toolbox

Your new tool for your grieving toolbox today is creativity. One of the reasons I enjoy quilting is that it is a creative outlet for me. What is your hobby? Where do you direct your creative energy? Engaging in a creative activity is a wonderful stress reliever. Furthermore, it doesn't matter if no one else likes what you have created. If it is beautiful to you, that is all that matters. If you don't have a creative hobby, now is the time to find one. Some ideas include baking, gardening, writing, painting, scrap booking, music, flower arranging. How about decorating, knitting, or woodworking? Creativity is good for your soul. So start looking for a hobby my friend.

Cherished one of the Most High, I pray that you will not be worried about your life. May you not have anxiety about what you will eat, what you will drink or what you will wear. May you rest in the knowledge that  your Heavenly Father knows everything you need. (based on Matthew 6:25, 31-33)