Thrifty Thursday – Contentment
While browsing around the internet looking for a thrifty tip for you all this week, I ran across this article: Use It All; Wear It Out; Make It Do; or Go Without!
It got me thinking: When I plan my menus, am I as content as the women during the Great Depression and World War II eras were to use what they had on-hand to prepare meals? Do I go at it with the same gusto? Or am I soft and weak because of the affluence that I’ve experienced in our society while growing up?
Lately, for devotional time, I’ve been going through Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow (for the third time!) and I’ve been meditating on becoming more content in all areas of life, but especially with my possessions.
After reading through the two books mentioned above, one cannot help but have the eyes opened and the heart more satisfied; more willing to give than receive. In Calm My Anxious Heart, Dillow explains what it was like to be a missionary in Communist Poland and Romania. Those chapters alone, and the stories of the Christian women living under Communist rule, are enough to change our thinking and help us to see just how much we have.
We need to live more in gratitude and praise than in greediness.
I hope you will take the time to read through the above-mentioned post (and try out the recipe for “Nut Casserole” on page 2!) and get a copy of Mrs. Dillow’s book. Both will change the way we see our roles as home economists and frugalists. Our role is so very important to the Kingdom of Christ! Be encouraged, be strengthened, and “work heartily as unto the Lord…” (Col 3:23)
This is my off-the-beaten-path Thrifty Thursday post for this week. I hope you don’t mind how atypical it is. I just had to share something that the Lord has put on my heart.
What do you do, or focus on, to stay content in today’s challenging economy? How are you practicing gratitude daily? What other “Make-Do” recipes have you invented or used? Please leave a comment below and let us all know.
Last night, I “invented” a homeade recipe, with items from my garden…
stuffed zucchini:
i fried 2 lbs of laura’s lean beef
1 package of lipton’s taco rice (free w/ coupon)
then i sauteed’:
onions
celery
tomatoes
swiss chard
mixed everything in a big bowl and stuffed 4 zucchini’s boats! sprinkled cheese and bread crumbs on top and baked for 25 min.
i had enough “stuffing” leftover to stuff and freeze 6 green peppers! another thrifty meal! yes!!
michele
I make my own chili powder, italian seasoning, cream type soups for casseroles, spaghetti sauce, cheese crackers, grahams, bread, etc. I try to make a lot of things myself to make them better for my family without the other junk that goes into them plus it is frugal, too.
I have been trying to practice this approach for a while now with what I have in the house. I only live two minutes from the grocery store so I find myself going there more often if I don’t like what I have on hand.
Thanks for the reminder Molly!
Great comments from Facebook:
Ruby Pearl Hillerts Olsen: I love this “off beat” posting. It focuses us in a different direction than most Thrifty Thursdays but still relevant.
Meghan Miller: Thanks for the encouragement, Molly! I think us mommys are going to have to practice “practical” contentment if we are going to pass it on to our children too! It is one thing to say we are content – but the things we complain about, dream out loud about, and “have to have” are what is going to speak the loudest to them!! God bless you!
Molly Green Glad that you all liked this post!
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