Let’s Just Go Ahead

Yesterday in this space: “Patty cooks very well.  Our son, LJ4, is learning…especially during this pandemic era, when his primary agency offers cooking classes via Zoom. I do well to set the table and clean up after.”

Several  presumably well-intentioned people have told me to stop being modest. That’s very kind of y’all, but here’s the truth: “I do well to set the table and clean up after.”

My culinary repertoire is pretty much limited to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or spaghetti. Sometimes I splurge and bring home some microwaveable frozen thing from the grocery store that might even bear a slight resemblance to the gorgeous food pictured on the box.

I find this both helpful and hopeful —

Let’s just go ahead

and be what we were made to be,

without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves

with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.

If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else;

if you help, just help, don’t take over;

if you teach, stick to your teaching;

if you give encouraging guidance,

be careful that you don’t get bossy;

if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate;

if you’re called to give aid to people in distress,

keep your eyes open and be quick to respond;

if you work with the disadvantaged,

don’t let yourself get irritated

with them or depressed by them.

Keep a smile on your face.

— from Romans 12, the Message version

— Yeah, it’s true: “I do well to set the table and clean up after.”