A Pint-Sized Day
This past Sunday and Monday we traveled home from Missouri where we had had a fun time celebrating our grandson Henry’s third birthday and holdingĀ his little brother Toby (who must have been twice the size he was a month ago). On Monday we stopped at Costco to stock up on some items we can’t get close to home.
Among other things, I bought a 5-pound bag of frozen vegetables which is a bit of a risky thing to do on a hot summer day when you live almost 2 hours away like we do. Even though they traveled inside the car in a cooler bag, they were a little soft when we got home. Wanting to make sure thereĀ were still ice crystals inside, I cut openĀ the bag. I saw lots of crystals — that was good; but in my haste I messed up the strip used to reseal the bag.
I decided to repackage the veggies in 1-pound portions which fit nicely in quart freezer bags. This made me remember another 5-pound bag of veggies that has been in my freezer for several weeks. I have never opened it because at meal prep timeĀ I’ve not wanted to fool with that great big bag. Now those veggies are in quart bags, too. It doesn’t matter how many great veggies I have in my freezer. They won’t nourish a single cell in our bodies if they don’t end up on a plate.
I repackageĀ other things this way already. I buy maple syrup by the gallon when it is available in the spring and then freeze it in pint freezer jars. I freeze fruit in one quart bags so I have four cups handy for a recipe of cobbler.Ā Still, it had never occurred to me to use this strategy with large bags of vegetables.
I wonder how many responsibilities we are leaving in gallon jugs or 5-pound bags when we could put them inĀ pint freezer jars and tackle them one jar at a time. You can’t take on the whole process of potty training today, but you can introduce the idea today — if he is ready. You can’t homeschool your child all the way through high school today, but you can talk to a friend about what she used for math. You can’t fix every challenge in your marriage today, but you can pray for your husband.Ā You can’t take care of your mother for the rest of her life today, but you can honor, bless, and serve her today.
Decide that today is going to be a pint-sized day instead of a gallon-sized one.
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink
because of your name as followers of Christ,
truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
Mark 9:41
The person who received that cup of water would need more water the next day and the next and the next for the rest of his life, but at that momentĀ a cup was enough.
Excellent advice. I find that when I start getting overwhelmed with say a mess, that if I just pick up one thing at a time and put it away it helps. I also make a lot of lists, crossing items off can help me stay motivated. I have a food saver which seals the bags, which is great for repackaging vegetables and meat for the freezer.
Very good ideas!
I like that reference ,”Pint-sized Day”. Sometimes when I feel so overwhelmed that every room in the house and every member of the family needs my attention, I pray. š Then I let God guide me through my “Pint-Sized” tasks. By the end of the day, I’m amazed what God has accomplished. I have a tendency to be OCD about everything. If I can’t do it fully and completely, then I wouldn’t do it at all. Lol. Not very good results. God has taught me exactly what you are talking about!! A little each day and by the end of the week it’s done!!! This is a great approach to ALL things is life, but I have never thought to use it in my relationships. Great advice!
Praying and trusting is the very best way to get through anything. Great focus.
Oh, this was wonderful! I love your metaphor of the pint-sized bites of life. Such a great way to push forward without becoming overwhelmed!
~ Betsy
Thank you, Betsy.