Producing Responsibility Organically

This summer our family has enjoyed weekly Farm Fresh Deliveries.  Not having the energy or time to manage our own garden or get to the local farmer's markets, we have been blessed to have organic and local produce delivered to our door.  Having it delivered to your door does not always take you off the hook as far as work goes though.  The food still needs to be prepared and served before it spoils.  In some instances, this has required me to search the Internet looking for kale recipes.  Other times, I just have to remember to use the food we received; and this summer, that hasn't always happened.  Far too often, more produce was delivered before the first batch had been eaten; ashamedly, there were too many fruits and veggies that were thrown away because they'd gone bad waiting to be used.  Failure to menu plan coupled with a lack of energy at dinner time led to unfortunate and unacceptable waste. 

My dear husband has done his best to try to limit this waste and has even enlisted the kids' help.  Tonight, his training and encouragement bore fruit as we received our first delivery since our return from Yellowstone.  The dog viciously announced the arrival of the delivery man, and I called to the kids to bring her in.  Then, before I knew it, they'd emptied the bin, putting all the produce away in the fridge.  I walked into the kitchen to find my nine year old daughter slicing the strawberries into a container. 

There have been many times in the past several months that I've felt like an epic failure as a wife, mom, and housekeeper because of what I have been unable to do.  But my inability has given others, including my kids, an opportunity to step up and help.  My children have become more responsible these past seven months that I have been sick...because they had to.  I needed them to help out more with chores, housework, and cooking, and they have!  So rather than beat myself up for my irresponsibility in allowing organic produce to go to waste because I didn't do better at planning and executing, I am choosing to be grateful that my children are learning responsibility which is the best kind of produce I could desire.  God's Word says that, "His strength is made manifest in my weakness."  I would have to add that my kids' ability has been made manifest in my weakness as well. 

Grace and Peace,
Angel