Autumn's Kitchen, USA, 2007
I've been thinking a lot on how I would like to remodel my kitchen. It's just a lot smaller than I would like and doesn't have as much counter space as my former kitchen. I end up making several trips to the garage when cooking to get supplies from my makeshift pantry. Any small preparations create what looks to be a very large mess, not to mention my countertops are still circa 1960's. I've been dreaming up my grand new kitchen for a while now. Even drawing a few sketches here and there and taking note of what I would like to include in a new one.
Then the other day my friend and I were looking through a book of photos that my great-grandfather took in the 1950's. We came across this picture:
Wife of Rice Farmer Cooking in Kitchen, China, 1951
It's amazing how something like this can really change your perspective. What would this woman think if she ever visited my kitchen? How would I feel if my kitchen were replaced with hers?
I don't feel guilty that I want to update or remodel my kitchen. It isn't wrong to want more room to accomodate my family and friends. But what this photo did in my heart was remind me to be grateful. Grateful for what I have right now. I don't feel sorry for this woman, I think she seems to be content cooking for her husband. Who knows, her kitchen may even be on of the nicer ones in her neck of the woods. But the photo dispelled the sense of urgency or need for something better, bigger or newer.
It is possible to thrive on so little. To have joy, to have peace and love without all the trappings life has to offer. It's all in our sense of perspective and it's all about thanking God for what we have today.
• Apr. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
What I like about your kitchen is that I feel at home there and have lots of memories-- making tea, talking, kids wandering through, washing dishes, husbands laughing loudly, birthday cakes, hugs and tears, more tea, something lemony in the oven? someone always sitting on that stool you have, cooking with babies on our hips, more tea in a black mug.... I hope you do get to make your kitchen bigger and better--but it's good to see your thankfulness, too.