When Life Gives You Potatoes...

Would you like a warm bowl of creamy potato soup? How about a chilled bowl of zesty potato salad? What? Would you rather snack on some home-made french fries? Regardless of which you decide, you must know this...it all derived from a perfectly simple bag of potatoes.

We've all heard the phrase, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." I'm rewording this one today: "When life hands you potatoes...get busy making something yummy." True, there's nothing special about the food I mentioned above. However, an unexpected bag of potatoes is what made it all possible.

I thought about this when a friend blessed me with a bag of potatoes before leaving town on vacation. During the week, I made potatoes several different ways. We had soup one night, potatoes as a side dish with some chicken another night, and potato salad on yet another night. It was quite a simple blessing, but spoke volumes to me about trusting God before it was all said and done.

Sometimes God allows unexpected situations to come into our lives. We might question and wonder how anything good will come out of it. Suddenly that little-BIG word pops up. You know, the one we all have trouble with on occasion.  OK, maybe I'm the only one with the issue - TRUST. I'm so thankful God is patient with me!

We've been taught this since we were children in Sunday school: God works things together...for our best interest...every time. His will is always the best option for our lives. Always. Period.

It might not look anything like what we had anticipated, we might have to learn to be flexible, we might have to learn a new "normal" or recover from injury; but, whatever the case, God will help us take our "bag of potatoes" and turn them into something unforgettable if we'll be willing to learn. He will teach us how to use them. He will grow us along the way as we choose to to trust Him one moment at a time. Learning the lessons. Experiencing the amazing power of God. Yielding to His will. What we do with the potatoes we're given is what counts.

Whether it involves lemons, potatoes or something much scarier like those deep dark valleys or trials that wiggle their way into our days causing us to fall or bow a little lower under the weight of the burden. Yes, my friend, no matter what IT might be, there has got to be a way for something good to come out of it. It is a promise of God and He cannot lie. Have faith! 

What unexpected things will you turn over to God and allow Him to use for your good? Pull up a chair and let's share this yummy plate of fries...and thank God with me for the unexpected bags of potatoes in our lives. It's good stick-to-the-bone kind of stuff that will sustain us as we grow and mature in Christ. Enjoy!