Confessions of a Southern Girl.

I am a Southern Woman. I capitalize it because... we are kind of our own group. ;) I identify with almost all things southern. Some of the southern women stereotypes include that a southern girl takes care of her man,  loves fiercely, protects her family, is hospitable, keeps her house clean...and don't even get me started on Southern Mommas. They are capitalized because I believe they are their own group too! I live a southern life: sweet tea, accents, outdoors, decor, sunscreen and moisturizer, and of course family. I say things like, "sweet heart, bless your heart, yes and no mam, y'all come back, stop by any time". The list goes on...

But I have a secret shame to my southern girl life. Ready for it?

.....I can't cook.

Don't judge! :) For all the non-southerners out there, yeah, I know this isn't a big deal to you. But if you understood how many times a southern girl gets asked this in her lifetime, you would understand the importance of her learning, stat. What makes it even "worse" is my husband cooks... GREAT. That wasn't sarcastic, he really is a great cook. He also loves to grocery shop (sorry ladies, both his brothers are already married). Tyler goes grocery shopping and comes back in 20 minutes with everything we need. I go grocery shopping, ask for help, call my mom for a location on about every other item on my list, circle the store so many times I convince myself that I don't have to work out later, and come back 2 hours later. Needless to say, it has become an issue. You know how most men gain a little weight after they get married? My husband lost weight...fifty pounds! lol...granted I was going to grad school most nights. :) Kidding! I can't take any credit for his success. What was his secret?? Big shocker: he worked out and ate healthy! I know that's not what you wanted to hear! Anyway, no excuses, I have to learn to cook. So recently I found a great little webpage called Dashing Dish. Please find the link below. This is a Christian lady who makes wonderful recipes that are simple to make and healthy. Will I become a member? Why yes. :)

Tonight I decided to tackle chili... made in a crock pot. Our three year anniversary is in December. This is the first time I have used my crock pot since getting married. Let me just tell you, I amped myself up for this cooking event tonight. It was in my planner, I pulled out all the ingredients, I set aside a chunk of time. And then I read the directions. They went something like this:

1. Cook meat and onions.
2. Put all other ingredients in pot.
3. Once meat is cooked, put in pot.
4. Cover and heat for 4 hours.

At least that's my rendition. Really?!?! I had to laugh out loud! Man, I may not know my way around H.E.B. or the kitchen, but I know my way around a crock pot! Mind you, about 98% of the "other ingredients" are canned vegetables. My kind of recipe! So as I was getting through the strenuous part of tonight's cooking, opening the cans, I began to think about how much I had psyched myself out for this "huge task".

How many times are we like this over things? We worry, we plan, we play out conversations in our mind, we consult others about it. Maybe if I stopped and took time to "read the directions" or hear from God, I would realize that what I am so worried about, may actually be easier than I thought. Maybe it's not always a big deal.

Lately, I have been seeing this little post on Facebook... and Pinterest... and Instagram, that says, "have you prayed about it, as much as you have talked about it?" Another confession, sometimes these little one-liners annoy me! But this one stuck in my head and I am reminded of it as I write this blog. Have I, do we, pray about it FIRST. For many of us our natural instinct is to first DO something about it, whether that be think about, or talk about it with someone. But again, I think God's plan and direction is to first hear his word on it. It may be as simple as "pray for them" or "love them". If you are worried about a conversation or relationship, He can give you the right words to heal a relationship or ease a friend's worry. He will give you peace to overcome your obstacle, or strength to do something that would have been hard for you to do on your own.

The ingredients are all in the crockpot now, and what started out as a huge endeavor has ended as one of the most simple things I have accomplished today. Will the things God calls you to do always be easy? No, I believe some will be difficult. But we don't need to worry in advance and magnify it before we have even started. We come to God first, magnify him in our life and in the situation, and wait for His directions. Maybe I should have read the directions first. :) But I am kind of glad I didn't because it allowed God to speak this simple truth to my heart.

Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"

Blessings,

Bri

www.dashingdish.com