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June 29, 2018

When All I Have to Offer is Leftovers

15 Comments/ 69/ 1

One of my devotionals today was about leftovers.  You know what I am talking about. That leftover food that sometime languishes in the back of the refrigerator that turns into a science experiment.

The writer said that it would speak a lot about her feelings about her friends if she were to serve them leftovers thrown together for a meal instead of preparing something special for them. Of course the analogy was to how we treat God.  Do we give Him our best or do we make do and give Him what is left over at the end of the day?

It made me think about that mental picture and I must say that while I understood the meaning of what the writer was writing about I also think that there is another side. If my best friends came over I think they would be fine with leftovers. After all it isn’t really the food that they were probably after but the fellowship. In any close relationship there should be that comfort level where you are accepted for who you are and where you are at in that particular time in life.

Leftovers sometimes are better than the real thing in my humble opinion. Things like lasagna and potato soup always taste better to me when they are reheated. Nothing beats cold leftover fried macaroni and cheese which is a Grandma Bonnie creation that I go to when I need comfort food.

So while I understood the point that the writer was trying to get across I think that I would argue against it and say that God would lovingly accept our leftovers if that is all that we had to offer that day. He just wants a relationship with us and I think that the leftovers may be all that I have to offer Him on some days.  Perhaps those leftovers are perfectly fine after all.



Comments for a Cause will be winding down for the month of June.  I will be announcing on July 2nd the total donation we will be making to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund due to all of the comments left on the blog during the month.  Don’t forget to come back on Monday to see those results and to find out what our July Comments for a Cause recipient will be.

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15 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Dianna
    June 29, 2018 at 06:12 am

    I tend to agree with your thoughts on the matter! Real friends would be happy with leftovers, and I believe that God understands that we do the best we can at any given time.
    Thanks again SO much for choosing the Corolla Wild Horse Fund as your charity this month!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 29, 2018 at 06:53 am

      I agree with you. While I understand that we need to give God our best I also think there are days when our best is leftovers. And that is fine. I am so happy to be able to support “your horses” and know that every little bit helps. Thank YOU!

      Reply
  2. reneewilliams7
    June 29, 2018 at 07:18 am

    Heaven knows I PLAN for leftovers as a means of survival. There is no time otherwise. Why? Because I give, give, give, to my parents, my students, my husband, my doggies, and anyone else who needs it. God is always there, in the forefront, each and every day. He’d want me to help others. Leftovers is good food, you know. Oftentimes much better than anything that can be grabbed at a fast food restaurant—and it is food, of the home-cooked variety. It is all good, I think. He knows we’re doing the best that we can. And I’m just grateful to have a meal! (A handful of grapes and water can only take me so far, you know! 😉😉)

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 29, 2018 at 07:23 am

      YES! We are definitely in agreement on this, Renee! Thank you, as always, for stopping by and taking the time to leave a great comment. You are the best!

      Reply
  3. Darlene
    June 29, 2018 at 07:45 am

    I love your take on this and totally agree. My hubby loves his leftovers, as you say things like stew, lasagna and chilli are always better the next day. In fact he is having leftover meatloaf tonight!!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 29, 2018 at 07:52 am

      Oh leftover meatloaf is the best. I agree that some things are much better the second time around. You made me hungry for meatloaf so that may be what’s on the menu tonight when Chris gets home from Alabama!

      Reply
  4. jena c. henry
    June 29, 2018 at 08:03 am

    Yes! Your POV was what popped in my mind, too. We could have fun with our friends and a potluck of leftovers. But what if you just slammed a couple of plastic containers on the counter and said, “ you may have to scrape off some green fuzzy stuff”, I’m busy. So it truly is where your heart is. Great post!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 29, 2018 at 08:06 am

      Exactly! Some of my best memories of our times at Lakeside were years ago when our friends picnic was on Thursday night with the idea that we were using up what was left in our fridges at the end of the week . It all worked great!

      Reply
  5. Josh
    June 29, 2018 at 09:41 am

    Love it! Lasagna, soups & chili… Prime examples of foods that taste better the second time prepared. Or there’s the leftover broccoli, you could eat it like that or you could put it in a taco shell with seasoning & lots of cheese for broccoli tacos. Scramble it into eggs with some hot sauce etc… Leftovers rock!

    Reply
  6. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    June 29, 2018 at 10:33 am

    you’re right. some days we have only leftovers, which are way better than nothing.

    right now i am especially appreciating leftovers.

    i think you need to post that fried mac & cheese recipe. i have never heard of such a version of that comfort food.

    Reply
  7. Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
    June 29, 2018 at 02:57 pm

    Love it! I think you took the initial message full circle and I couldn’t agree more. But our relationship with God is like any other, we can’t get too comfortable and story trying at it. We need to keep trying new things and keep learning about each other 😉

    Reply
  8. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    June 29, 2018 at 05:43 pm

    Very well expressed, Beth Ann. Our Lord accepts us as we are everyday. HE just ask that we continue to try to serve and love him. <3

    Reply
  9. Jen! / Jen!Eats (@JeniEats)
    July 01, 2018 at 08:00 pm

    I think leftovers are even better. I think you’re right about good friends accepting us for what we are. Sometimes life makes you feel leftovers are all you’ve got!

    Reply
  10. Karen
    July 02, 2018 at 09:54 pm

    I would be happy with leftovers! If I don’t have leftover turkey at Thanksgiving, I make another turkey!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      July 05, 2018 at 07:11 am

      That is the case with a lot of people! Leftovers are fabulous!

      Reply

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