One of the hurdles of participating in the online world is coming to terms with what you can't do! At times I look at what others do and know that financially there is just no way that I/we could do the same regardless of how much I/we would like to ... regardless of how much it might make our life easier. There are some things we just can't financially or physically do, and we need to be okay with that.
In the current online climate, the urgency to go big or go home in one's preparedness has left many with a hopeless feeling. I really regret that, because the reality is that going BIG requires money and possibly abilities that one might not possess. Please don't let what others can do keep you from doing what you can do. Read that again! Stop worrying about what you can't do and get busy doing what you can do!
There is always going to be someone who can do more than you, accept it and move on doing what you can with what's in your hands.
Here's what that looked like for me today ...
Here's what the outside looks like.
patsi @ A Working Pantry
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
Sharing 43 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine, where I share my love for God and His Word through my personal Bibe study. Physical preparedness is important, but not near as important as spiritual preparedness. Ladies, join me over at From This Heart of Mine and study God's Word with me.
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Patsy, if you'll allow me to reflect a little, both personally and in kindness, the events of 3+ years ago were so unexpected and so startling that we may have become conditioned to expect the worst and panic now. What was to be 14 days turned into months, then years. Lives were turned upside down. For the 1st time in my life there were empty aisles in stores. From toilet paper to hand soap to coffee... notta. Realistically though, and I've seen mention of stocking up in case of war, we wouldn't be facing the same; it's just fear of being blindsided again. My home now since retiring has no basement or garage. There's no place for me to store a year's worth of food unless we did away with a much-needed guest room. Fear is the devil's weapon. Throughout scripture, God promises to take care of us. Yes, do what you can, but read Luke 12:6-7, and know it's enough to do what you can. Thank you for the reminder. --Elise
ReplyDeleteElise, yes, I believe with all my heart that we are to do what we can, not what we can't and trust Him for the rest. Fear is definitely the devil's weapon as is confusion and unrest in our hearts. Great comment!
DeleteThank you for that reminder. I do keep us very well stocked because my husband is disabled with a brain injury and I have a genetic disease that sometimes puts me down for weeks at a time. Sometimes we just cannot get out to the store and for us it is best to not have to worry about it.
DeleteMom and Dad had very little storage space. Mom had canned goods under the beds and couch, behind doors that stayed open most the time, stacked and covered with a cloth (I think it was an old bed sheet) and used as a side table to the couch. I did the same when we lived in a 800 sq ft rental that had no basement or pantry area. I have even put extra medical in a suitcase and slid under the bed.
DeleteChef Owings, where there is a will, there is a way!
DeleteI like to think that doing what one can do shows ambition and helps deveop and hone skills vs. doing nothing and being entirely reliant on others. As the saying goes, idle hands are the devil's workshop. And the devil isn't residing in my house. I'd rather put forth the effort and have something (anything!) to show for it. Storage is minimal where I live. I converted my kitchen's broom closet to pantry storage -- deep shelves and a basket rack to the left, wall shelving on the back side and to the right, and storage baskets on the door. My one broom and dust mop can hide behind my winter coat in the coat closet. It's amazing what I can fit in there! If push came to shove, I could probably survive for 6+ months, if not more on what's in there, and much of it is home preserved. Your ways are so encouraging. Thankful for your posts.
ReplyDeleteWe have a very small closet, 2-foot x 3-foot that we converted into pantry space too and you're right, 'idleness is the devil's workshop!'
DeleteChef Owings, I keep cans of food under the guestroom bed. My Problem? Out of sight, out of mind. And it's just the two of us now, in our 60s (we don't eat big meals anymore); this past year has been a BIG lesson in buying and cooking smaller. Lana, we keep quite a bit stocked up "just in case", too, which at our ages is important. Last winter we got snowed in for several days. As in unable to get up and out of the drive. I probably have enough staple foods and ingredients, dog food, TP, toiletries, and (of course) medications to get us through a few months easily. What I wrote was for myself as well as anyone else. I'm working very, very hard on trusting God to keep watch over us all. --Elise
ReplyDeleteElise, I believe Scripture teaches us to do what we can, not what we can't and then leave the rest up to Him.
DeleteWe are mid 60s and live in the country *Amish community. I had forgotten stuff under furniture. Daddy suggested I write where what was and keep it on the frig or a cabinet door. That helped a lot. My In Laws ran out of food last year during snow storm. I just reminded her to stock up last month for at least 1 month of meals. She thanked me again when FIL had bowel cancer surgery (he is fine now) and she doesn't drive much. They ate the stock up. He was out yesterday and restocked them as she was smart and kept her stock up list.
DeleteChef Owings, having a master list of where things are is an excellent idea. I'm glad your in-laws are stocking up for their needs. There are some good reminders in your post!
DeleteChicken broth looks good. Can you give us, your readers, your recipe for canning.
ReplyDeleteHere's my method ... https://aworkingpantry.blogspot.com/2023/10/canning-chicken-broth.html
DeleteMy stock is quite small compared to others but I’m okay with that
ReplyDeleteLeeAnn, One of the beauties of stocking our pantries is that we can have it the size that works best for us!
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