Soup…Nature’s Tranquilizer

Homemade vegetable beef soup

It was twenty-seven degrees here at the farm yesterday morning when I sent Mr. FixIt off on a guys trip to North Carolina. This leaves me on my own till Sunday night. I love this man…I truly do. AND, I love my alone time on occasion, so I’m sitting here in the dining room, in front of Grandma’s favorite window, classical music playing softly in the background. It is lovely outside…nearly sixty degrees, sunny, the last of the autumn leaves clinging desperately to the branches like quivering field mice bracing for winter’s chill. It is warm and cozy in this little, old farmhouse and I’m snug as a bug in a rug.

The other day I told you I was making pot roast in the pressure cooker. That night after dinner, I added a can of green beans, a small can of sliced carrots, a can of diced tomatoes, and the leftover potatoes from dinner to the crock pot. When I say “‘crock pot” and “pressure cooker”, I am talking about the same appliance that also is a steamer. When I got rid of most of my belongings and moved into the camper, I didn’t want to be without the conveniences of my kitchen appliances and there wasn’t room for everything. That’s when I ran across this wonderful gizmo that does it all. It’s not very big, but its big enough for two and leftovers aplenty.

I put the soup on and frankly…I forgot all about it till I was heading to bed. I came into the kitchen to lock the back door and noticed it was still cooking. Too hot to put in the fridge, I took the soup…pot and all…out to my truck and set it inside for the night as the temperature got down into the thirties. The next morning, I skimmed off the fat and plugged it back in to have ready for lunch. It was wonderful!

Mr. FixIt was heading into town after lunch to help his ex with something. I sent him off with a container of soup and some crackers for her. Why cater to the needs of an ex-wife? Because…divorce may change a relationship status, but you can still be family. There is Christian loving-kindness to be considered. She is moving this week into her first home of her own. I remember what that was like after my divorce. I wanted her to know she is loved and cared for. It is the same love and kindness extended toward me from my exes’ wives. You can be bitter and angry and full of resentment with a divorce. Or, you can embrace the new member into the family circle. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but I choose love. I always choose love. ❤️

“We love because he first loved us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

14 thoughts on “Soup…Nature’s Tranquilizer

  1. Ah yes, I love my family also, but cherish alone time to recharge my soul! However, today the 28th is my sons 22nd birthday, and actually now is close to the time he was born! And I’m missing him, he went on vacation, his first to fly alone ( and for someone with anxiety, a great accomplishment for him ) this Momma was more anxious than he was! But we both needed time away from other. Hubby is away this weekend, so it’s just me and the cat! I find I get so much more done when he’s away also!

    I get what you say about exes, I got one myself and when you have kids, you just got to get along! Of course, it helped him more after he remarried ! We both attended daughter #2’s softball games, we had to coordinate holidays with the wife… and so on. Fast forward to 2017, daughter #1 calls with news her dad suffered a heart attack, and yes, I rush to be with her, but also to support him. I even had my hubby get to hospital first, since he was closer! I’ve sent food, had him here for meals, over to see the grandkids.. life moves on. We’re all here to support each other while we travel life’s many ups and downs.

    Love reading your life’s adventures each morning!

  2. Ginny thank you for sharing! You are so right as Christians we are called to serve others. We have a choice to choose joy, it not only helps us but everyone around us. I love this post.

  3. I am glad I am so kind to my former husbands wife. She married the person she needed to be with. Same for him. Forty years of marriage to him and I can truly say I am blessed with three wonderful sons. What more could I ask for? Amen and amen. I look forward to the next part of my journey! P.s. The Lord gave me five beautiful grandchildren as well…that counts as eight huge blessings from that chapter of my life!
    Thank you for your kindness towards her.

  4. I am married to a man who was divorced after 28 yrs. I have become friends with his X and the family. His x has remarried to a great man. We all get along quite well. I think it helps that we are all Christians. I am so thankful for such a pleasant family situation.

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