By Jade Whitehurst
“What’s for dinner?”
These words sometimes make me cringe as a mom.
So there I was, hunting down ingredients, and I grumbled to God, “I hate how inconvenienced and annoyed I feel that I have to cook this meal. Please help me feel differently.” My spirit knew it was misaligned, but I still could not help feeling this way. Immediately, God flooded my thoughts with, “Don’t mistake your blessings as a burden, because what if gospel conversations happen over the very meal you grumble to make?”
In that moment, I realized I had lost my eternal perspective, and that what God meant for joy and gladness, Satan was determined to steal, kill, and destroy. I shouted, “Alexa, play Christian music,” got out my favorite Poppi drink, and made a meal for my family with genuine excitement.
Philippians 2:14-15 states, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.”
That day, Satan tried to dim the light that my children need to see from me – the joy that will bring them around the table and allow me to speak truth into them.
If you’re like me and find yourself burdened by the meal prep, the mess, or simply showing up to serve your family, here are seven tips that helped me bring joy back into my kitchen:
- Acknowledge and confess your feelings to God. God already knows our feelings. Let us run to Him for the correction we need. (Psalm 109:26, 30)
- Repent and ask God to change the desires of your heart. When we take delight in the Lord, our desires will begin to shift. (Psalm 20:4)
- Remember the eternal perspective. God has written eternity on our hearts. Therefore, let us remember daily the reason we are here: to tell others about Jesus as we do life with them. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
- Turn on Jesus’ music as you cook! Your mood will shift, and that eternal perspective is brought to the forefront.
- Grab sparkling water, a sweet tea, or your favorite drink, and sip as you cook!
- Use a fun or cute serving dish (dishwasher safe, of course)! My kids love an exciting display.
- Challenge yourself to try one new recipe a week! Not the ones that intimidate you, but one you’re excited to try. It can be two ingredients and no-bake. Think dessert or a snack!
Next time you feel burdened over a blessing, ask yourself, “What if gospel conversations happen over this meal?” and see if your heart doesn’t get excited!
For now, I need to go. I have hungry kiddos coming home from school soon, and I cannot wait to connect with them over some blueberry protein muffins!
Jade Whitehurst is a wife, mom, and fitness coach. For more encouragement in your faith, fitness, and health goals, follow her on Instagram @jadewhitehurst_.