Five Minute Friday - Left

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One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

all that's left

left behind

leftovers

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Some people love eating leftovers and others don't. My kids were never big fans of leftovers, at least not when they were young, so it the extra servings of dinner sometimes sat in the fridge until they weren't fit to eat any more. My husband gladly took leftovers for his lunch at work. I'm kind of in the middle, not caring for some foods when they're reheated but other foods are actually better on the second day in my opinion. 

I've gotten better at planning how many servings of a meal to make, so that's there's plenty to satisfy us when we sit down to dinner, and only enough left over for a lunch or two. I've also learned to properly label the leftovers that I put in the fridge so we know what's in the container and how long it's been there! But I still don't like clearing up after a meal and dealing with the food that's left, and the cleanup of the dishes and mess.

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving, and I think most in our family actually looked forward to eating the leftover turkey dinner over the next couple of days. We prepared plenty of food in anticipation of enjoying what was left! I suspect the same will happen during the Christmas holiday season, for our family and for others. And while we could turn up our noses at reheated mashed potatoes or turkey sandwiches, perhaps the fact that we have leftovers should remind us how blessed we are to have plenty. 

Bein' rich is having leftovers. Good leftovers make yo' tongue fly outta yo' mouth and smack yo' brains out. ~Paula Deen

It's not leftovers that are wasteful, but those who either don't know what to do with them or can't be bothered. ~Julian Baggini

We celebrate abundance and generosity all the through the holiday season, and maybe our attitude towards how we use our abundance needs an adjustment. Mine does. Why would I complain about having leftover food when others don't have enough? What about all the spending and gift giving during the holidays? Are we spending on ourselves and having little left to share with others? Are we overspending so that all we have left is debt? Are we throwing all our time and energy into what we want and have little left to give to our loved ones? And are we giving God only a little sliver of whatever we have left instead of offering him the first and best in gratitude? After all, God is the Provider of all our resources and the Giver of all our blessings and abundance.

God doesn't want your leftovers. God wants your love overtures, your first-overs, because He is your first love. ~Ann Voskamp

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

~John 6:11-13~

After miraculously providing a satisfying meal for many thousands out of one boy's leftover lunch, there was abundant provision left over for the days ahead! Jesus didn't want them to waste what was left. He provides plenty and wants us to wisely steward what we have been given.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

~II Corinthians 9:7-8~

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Leftovers make you feel good twice. First, when you put it away, you feel thrifty and intelligent: 'I'm saving food!' Then a month later when blue hair is growing out of the ham, and you throw it away, you feel really intelligent: 'I'm saving my life!' ~George Carlin

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This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Left".

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