In a quick effort to soothe sore throats, I put some rice on to boil. Absentmindedly, I tossed in several scoops of rice with the unmeasured water. Uh oh. The water has mostly boiled away… add more water. Weepy child… Ah! the rice! Add more water…
What resulted was something that looked like Big Anthony with Strega Nona’s pasta pot. We are overflowing with rice.
We are also overflowing with sick children, dirty dishes and dirty clothes. It’s at these overwhelming times of overflowing duties that I must remind myself of the reason. The Lord’s blessings are overflowing in our lives.
It’s because we have food that dishes are dirty.
It’s because we have clothes that laundry piles up. And,
It’s because of children there’s a season of sickness.
So I’ll blow three kisses at that pasta pot and pray the blessings keep overflowing.
Repost from the Hodgepodge archives. I am back to boiling rice. Just a couple under the weather here. I’m most grateful we’ve had several months of good health. I pray that this week of rest, when we are missing parties and celebrations, results in fitness for Christmas.
Rebecca says
November 9, 2010 at 8:56 AMIt seems as though illness is hitting everyone early this year. Sending prayers your way….and we love Strega Nona!
Kim Ashbaugh says
November 9, 2010 at 11:48 AMDoes rice help heal a sore throat, or just make it feel better? I have never heard of that!
Tricia says
November 9, 2010 at 12:57 PMThank you Rebecca! Kim, my Mama calls it rice water soup. No particular measurements. You do add more water than you need and cook the rice a bit longer so it’s nice and soft. More soup like. It is kind of like chicken noodle but much more bland. Salt to taste. It’s the warmth that helps. And for those that don’t have an appetite, keeps them nourished. Good especially for the healing of stomach bugs. Ugh. Helpful all around.
writingaboutthejourney says
November 9, 2010 at 2:52 PMI needed that today! Thanks!!
Kim Ashbaugh says
November 9, 2010 at 3:35 PMAh! Good idea, esp. when one is out of chicken soup when the stoach bug hits. =)
Ellen says
November 9, 2010 at 9:39 PMTricia, the rice water soup sounds like what *I* need about now!
And thanks for reminding me that sometimes our frustrations (dirty dishes, dirty laundry, etc.) arise out of our blessings. It’s my focus that needs to change.
Kim Ashbaugh says
November 10, 2010 at 12:11 PMAnother thought…I used to get irritated with my husband for leaving his dirty clothes on the bathroom floor after a shower for me to pick up. One day it clicked, “Thank you Lord…these dirty clothes mean I HAVE a husband!” Now it’s just a daily habit, but I remember to thank God for him when I pick up those clothes, and remember how hard my husband works for me. =)
Tricia says
November 10, 2010 at 5:43 PMKim – I love that wonderfully, practical idea! Being thankful while picking up the messes.
Your comment made me think about a little gratitude list I wrote way back, called Bless our Mess:
Lord, please bless our mess.
Thank you for the spills because it means we have meals…
Thank you for the stacks left to be put away because it means we got away…
for the banners and discarded decorations because it means we celebrated a birthday…
for unfinished puzzles because little hands were trying and little heads were thinking…
for piles of toys because that means just playing…
for a nasty, wet towel because that means someone wiped up (and didn’t leave it for mama 🙂 – and even put the towel in the laundry room!
…for blankets and stuffed animals because that means someone was snuggling…
Please help me to see all of these and many more blessings amongst a multitude of messes.