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Thanksgiving Prep – Ant People

Holidays· Mindset

15 Nov

Do ants celebrate, former procrastinators?  Maybe they have teeny tiny parties. They do go to picnics.  I think of ants being “steady on” – little step by little step persevering in what they need to do.  That’s how I want to behave during holiday preparations.  Picture ant number one with an itty bitty pilgrim hat.

Though celebrations may be amended this year because of less travel, fewer people, etc., three things won’t change.  1)  We’ll still focus on gratitude to our Heavenly Father.  2)  We’ll still have extra work.  3)  We’ll still want to have time and energy to enjoy celebrating. 

Working ahead clears the deck for inner peace and fun.  It’s such a relief to have all but one or two dishes complete in advance, the table set, ourselves dressed early.  Then we, too, get to join the party!

I’ve come to rely on these tips:

  • Disregard the notion that every dish must be freshly made the day eaten.  That makes for crazy. Post your cook-ahead schedule.  Shop early.
  • Streamline same-day cooking by prepping ingredients earlier.  (Grate cheese and chop pecans in advance.  Measure, bag, and mark them for recipes.  “One cup – brussels sprouts.”  Grab ‘n go.  This also works great before your main cooking days.)
  • Enlist help.  Accept offers or ask others to bring a dish.  Purchase from a restaurant or grocery store.
  • Simplify plans.  Imagine your preferred scenario and eliminate something. Avoid planning so tightly there’s no room to flex.
  • Ask others what they hope to enjoy with you that day/ weekend.  If possible, plan accordingly.  (I’ve had a request for waffles.)
  • Deliver cheer to someone who can’t get out.  A call, dish, card, drive by?
  • Focus on Him and plan how to do that so supplies are handy.  (Read a Psalm, write gratitude notes, tell a pilgrim story)
  • Give your expectations to God and let Him minister to each heart. 

What tips would you pass on to us ant people?

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2 Comments

« A Tale of Woe – Ant People
Thanking Our Great God – Ant People »

Comments

  1. Andrea Salgado says

    November 18, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    This is very nice advice. It ensures enjoyable and peaceful celebrations for us and those we will celebrate with and also allows us to glorify God through diligence and wise planning, so even our behavior will be more loving and less irritated, we can be more focused on Him and others, than on a huge to-do list. Blessings!

    Reply
    • Beth Sterne says

      November 19, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you, Andrea! Your comment sums it up!

      Reply

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BETH STERNE
Welcome! It's great to have you here. I'm a follower of Christ and a learner of new ways. By His grace, I am gaining victory over procrastination. This is where I share struggles I face and lessons I'm learning. Join me and other sisters as we put off procrastination and put on peace.

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Beth Sterne - Put Off Procrastination
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has
no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
... you have put off the old man with
his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge
according to the image of Him who
created him.
Colossians 3:9-10

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