The Importance of Leftovers
In my hometown’s library, I was free to roam and travel without a passport or passage or suitcase or schedule. Reading was my open-ended ticket “elsewhere” and I punched that ticket at every opportunity. After school on Fridays, I would walk to the library-not uphill both ways, only a few blocks-and load up on books to read over the weekend. No cable television or streaming to grab my attention and once chores were finished I was a free agent and oh how I took advantage of that. Two of my favorite books- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith and Mama’s Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes. They served as a window into how other girls’ lives were lived; the former was an Irish family and the latter a Norwegian family. Both stories taught me much of the kind of mother I hoped to be one day.
In an old pattern book I came across a sampler bearing these words of wisdom:
Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Do without
Sadly, I never got ‘round to stitching that sampler. The words in Smith and Forbes’ aforementioned books as well as this sampler helped form me in so many ways, both as a daughter and as a mother. I have quoted them often in a sing-song voice to my kids who at times complained about our budget or lack of one.
Use it up…
Leftovers sometimes get a really bad reputation. I mean does anyone want to finish up that last bit of jello, peas, potatoes, ugh French fries, or just about anything else that we did not eat yesterday or gasp the day before?
Friends have told me “My husband will not eat leftovers.” My kids did not like them either but in time we accepted leftovers and in the end, we were grateful for them.
Wear it out…
Summertime’s options were often limited by our budget. One thing both as a child and a parent that happened every summer like clockwork is we wore our “play shoes” out. It was just something that everyone I knew did. Our mother knew in less than 90 days she had to purchase three new pairs of “school shoes” and PE shoes so if she could save a penny she did. When my kids were small we lived on a farm and I can tell you they carried on the tradition. Like my siblings and myself though, my boys always had church shoes.
Make it do…
Several of my friends and I would get together and have a cup of coffee and the kids would be outside playing. Not exactly a coffee klatch but more of an exchange of ideas on how to stretch everything! Once I laughed and said we should write a cookbook on how many ways to serve up a pound of ground beef; the recipes were endless and very forgiving-they stretched. Recently before a bridal shower, we were plating food and considering last-minute options when one friend realized she had not made as much dip as she thought. Another friend and I went to work going through the fridge, pantry, and spice cabinet. When she and I finished we had plenty of dip. We had rendered our friend speechless…how did you do that she asked? I have to go by a recipe. Making do is born of shortage and can offer abundance.
Do Without…
In the books, I mentioned both mothers are strong women, and though they go about it differently their objective is that their children should not have to feel insecure or worry. I completely agree. In Mama’s Bank Account, the young children are told each week when Papa brings his wages home and all watch as Mama stretches everything until finally she raises her eyes and smiles and tells the family that it is good, they do not have to go to the bank to remove any savings. The story reveals that Mama had never been inside a bank in her life but in her words “it is not good for children to worry, for children not to feel secure.” We all make little sacrifices for the good of others and in the end, if we are attentive we know it won’t hurt us to occasionally “do without.”
As we go through these uncertain times it is not good for us to be worried either. Scripture reminds us don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything, thanking God for his answers.
May your September be a time of grace and ease as we look forward to autumn and the turning of the year.