Grocery Store Silverware

Recently, I got married. If you didn't know that, then I quite frankly don't know what to tell you. All I can tell you though, is that my husband is amazing. Like the type of amazing that runs you a bath and makes you tea when you come home from a long day of work. The kind of amazing that wakes up in the wee hours of the morning to let the crying dog out of her kennel. The kind of amazing that does the dishes without being asked. Like I said, amazing.

Well anyways, this past December, my great-grandmother finally passed on to her eternal home. That left my Grammy and Aunt Dana to go through the remaining items of her house. Grammy gave me a craved wooden spatchula that my great-granddaddy carved as a wedding shower gift. Then she gave Joe and I a photo of her great-uncle standing in front of his jewelry store that proudly declares "Earl Davis Jeweler," (since our last name is Davis, it only seemed fit.) Fast forward to a few months post-wedding, on her most recent visit up north for my youngest sister's high school graduation, she brought Joe and I yet one more thing: Grandmother's silverware. 

I wish everyone could have spent a meal seated in my great-grandparent's dinning room. 

I've used these pieces of grocery store silverware countless times, never once giving it a thought. She saved up coupons with every trip to the grocery store that she made then cashed them in for a 12 seat set. If you knew any one thing about my great-grandmother, it is that she loved to feed people, I think my mother learned that from her, and I learned that skill enough to plump up my own husband. But Grandmother, she was special when it came to the kitchen. She was an avid baker. If there is one thing I could eat every meal and never get tired of would be her cinnamon bread. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water. 

As I unpacked and washed the "new" silverware in my own kitchen, I thought of the hundreds of mouths that these few pieces fed. The hundreds of times that my granddaddy would carefully, gladly wash each individual piece after each night's dinner. These grocery store silverware made an impact on many lives. 

I look around my tiny kitchen, painted blue with the help of my dear friend, Karlie whom I miss beyond words, accented with orange cabinets and countertops. And I think of what talents and gifts have I go give to hundreds of people? It brings me to ask what type of talents do I have that glorify our LORD? 

I've worked at a small restaurant for nearly 3 1/2 years. Somehow, I became apart of that little township of McCool. But today, I hang up my very dirty apron. I work my last shift as a waitress and I press forward on into life. Which brings me to think, who many people did I feed? How many people did I serve? I'm sure the number is in the high hundreds, if not more. Countless amounts of drinks and plates, and silverware pieces. I worked with and for great people, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have wonderful relationships with those people and those that I served. Somehow, my cup was filled when I knew the names of the patrons in the restaurant and they knew mine. When townsfolk would keep a watch out for me when I walked to my car late at night. When strangers would leave little notes on their receipts praising me for the service they received. When Miss Dee would tell me that her day was better because she saw me. 

I wish I had kept every kind note that was written to me. I wish that I had a video to replay all of the kind things said to me. As I head forward into this life, I can't wait to look back on the memories and found times I had in little McCool. I've worked with countless people, trained all the more, served more than that. To think that tonight is my last time to put on this suit and go out brings me bittersweet times as I look ahead.

I look forward to how God will use me next. I look forward to seeing where my new journey will unfold. Now Joe and I eat off this coupon awarded silverware set, and I could not be happier than to have these pieces sitting in my contrasting kitchen, and my cup continues to overflow.

Peace & love.

B.

Cinnamon Bread Recipe 

by Dan and Theda Dennington

4 cups luke warm water

2/3 cups sugar

1 tbs salt

2 tbs quick rising yeast

2/3 cups cooking oil

11 cups all purpose flour

1 cup melted butter

Approx. 1 cup brown sugar

Approx. 2 Tbs cinnamon

In large bowl mix water, sugar, salt and yeast. Add 4 cups of flour and beat with whisk. Add oil and whisk in. Add rest of flour stirring in with a wooden spoon. Let rise until doubled. Stir down. Let rise until double. 

Put on bread board and divide into four pieces. Roll one piece to about 6" by 10". Spread melted butter on dough, sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and put in bread pan. Let rise until double. 

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.