The Next Thing

When your heart is heavy, doing the simple things works best. This is probably not the peak time of creativity or decisiveness. As Elizabeth Elliot was known to suggest during times of trial, "Do the next thing."

So today a freezer was defrosted and cleaned. Tucked away I discovered a bag of precooked stew meat, seasoned with garlic and soy sauce. Also a bag of frozen, peeled bananas. And then there was the cherry pie. These items were set aside, left to continue defrosting, earmarked for the evening meal. Check that chore from the list requiring a creative decision. "Thank You, Lord."

Dishes were washed and dried with little or no thought required.

A stroll through the yard with my honey found us leaning on one another for added strength, reflecting on how a devastating situation had left us with crushed hearts, depleted emotions. God will come through, no doubt, but this is hard.

Back in the kitchen I rummage through the drawer and pull out the skillet; I begin sauteing whatever happens to be in the fridge. Adding the meat, some corn starch, extra soy sauce and sherry, and I step back and all but pronounce a verbal "Voila!" -- the main dish is complete. Brown rice stirred into the pot of water will round out the meal, along with freshly baked banana bread. And, of course, that warm cherry pie.

Basic. Simple. And almost over. Some days need to be that way.

Some days you just "do the next thing."