Blog
Oatmeal For Dinner
Thursday, December 15, 2022 by Sarah Schwerin
The strains of Thomas the Tank Engine floated into the kitchen. Empty Tupperware and toy dishes littered the floor. My preschool-aged son and toddler had been cooking, and I was too tired to clean up the mess. My husband called from work. He wouldn’t be home until late. The evening stretched before me, with no end in sight.
I opened the pantry door with a sigh and perused the contents. It didn’t take long. Spaghetti noodles, a box of mashed potatoes, some saltines, a couple of pudding boxes, and a large round canister. Maybe we could have oatmeal for dinner again?
The prospects in the refrigerator weren’t much better. We ate the leftovers for lunch. I could make PB&J sandwiches, but then remembered we’d had toast for breakfast and no bread or peanut butter remained. I opened the tub of butter and cringed at the toddler-sized tooth marks. What about jelly on crackers?
When I shut the refrigerator, a small hand touched my leg. My curly-haired preschooler smiled at me. His younger brother followed and lifted his arms up to me. I picked him up and kissed his soft cheek, inhaling his sweet scent and the faint aroma of butter.
“How about oatmeal for dinner?” I asked.
“Roast.” My oldest picked up a bowl from the floor and placed it on his head. He smiled up at me. “Gramma’s roast.”
The toddler started squirming, and I set him on the floor. He picked up another bowl and placed it on his head, laughing. “Pa.”
They loved visiting their grandparents, who lived nearby.
My older son laughed and twirled in a circle and chanted. “Gramma, Pa. Gramma, Pa.”
Loading the boys into the car, I hoped my in-laws wouldn’t mind an unexpected visit. We still had plenty of month left, but not that much money. I had come to the end of myself and my resources.
When we come to the end of ourselves and our resources, God is always ready to step in and provide. Sometimes it’s your in-laws cooking a grilled cheese or a Sunday afternoon roast. Other times, it may be an encouraging word or a phone call.
To be honest, I’m not sure what we ate for dinner that evening, but I remember God provided something for us, just as He always does.
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19, NLT.
Previous Posts
Santa Phobia
Sarah Schwerin
12/13/2024
Too Many Hurricanes: Why Me?
Sarah Schwerin
11/12/2024
I Want My Mom
Sarah Schwerin
10/8/2024
Scraped Knees
Sarah Schwerin
9/10/2024
A Curly Haired Girl
Sarah Schwerin
8/13/2024
For the Birds
Sarah Schwerin
7/9/2024
Too Much Adulting
Sarah Schwerin
6/11/2024
Ziplining The Canyon
Sarah Schwerin
5/14/2024
Book Review: Healing the Wounded Heart
Sarah Schwerin
4/9/2024
Unable to Relax?
Sarah Schwerin
3/12/2024
Who Am I?
Sarah Schwerin
2/13/2024
How's Your Heart
Sarah Schwerin
1/9/2024
The Frozen Ground of Christmas
Sarah Schwerin
12/19/2023
Book Review: Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
Sarah Schwerin
7/27/2023
What's Your Favorite Book?
Sarah Schwerin
7/13/2023
Overcoming Recurrent Hurts
Sarah Schwerin
6/22/2023
Book Review: #My Family Too! By Marlene Bagnull
Sarah Schwerin
5/25/2023
Second Breakfast
Sarah Schwerin
5/11/2023
Book Review: Hush by Nicole Braddock Bramley
Sarah Schwerin
4/27/2023
Unexpected and Unwanted
Sarah Schwerrin
4/13/2023
Books Review: We Too By Mary DeMuth
Sarah Schwerin
3/24/2023
An Envelope of Kindness
Sarah Schwerin
3/9/2023
Book Review: Healing For Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands
Sarah Schwerin
2/23/2023
Misdirected Prayers
Sarah Schwerin
2/9/2023
Book Review: The Courage to Heal By: Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
Sarah Schwerin
1/26/2023
My Refuge: Where I Flee When Life is Hard
Sarah Schwerin
1/12/2023
Book Review - True North By: Dave Smith
Sarah Schwerin
12/29/2022
Oatmeal For Dinner
Sarah Schwerin
12/15/2022
Book Review of Rescuing Rose
Sarah Schwerin
11/28/2022
When Houses Fall
Sarah Schwerin
11/16/2022
An Invitation
Sarah Schwerin
9/21/2022
Planner Addict: What Happens When Plans Fail
Sarah Schwerin
9/16/2022
Fast Drivers and Two Brothers: When Life Isn't Fair
Sarah Schwerin
8/16/2022
Talking Birds
Sarah Schwerin
7/15/2022
Looking for a Leader: Reflections from the Gettysburg Battlefield
Sarah Schwerin
6/24/2022
Nap Hater: My Quest to Find Rest
Sarah Schwerin
5/3/2022
Dreams of Kenya
Sarah Schwerin
4/26/2022
Snow Days and Hearts that Lead Us Astray
Sarah Schwerin
4/13/2022
Can I Hide From God?
Sarah Schwerin
3/29/2022
Stitches and Waiting on God
Sarah Schwerin
3/25/2022
God’s Voice Or The Enemy’s?
By Sarah
3/3/2022
The Battles We Fight
By Sarah
3/3/2022
Drowning In Fear
By Sarah
3/2/2022
A Boring Bible Story, A Temple, And My Mom: A Devotion On Heaven
By Sarah
3/1/2022
Marriage Advice
By Sarah
2/28/2022
Does Idolatry Exist In Today’s World
By Sarah
2/27/2022
Underwear Blues
By Sarah
2/27/2022
A Voice In Chengdu
By Sarah
2/26/2022
Word Of The Year
By Sarah
2/25/2022
A New Year Challenge
By Sarah
2/24/2022
A Christmas Of Firsts And Lasts
By Sarah
2/23/2022
Christmas And The Suffering Servant: Hope For Abuse Survivors
By Sarah
2/22/2022
The Day I Stopped Watching Horror Movies
By Sarah - Life Lessons
2/21/2022
Waiting Arms
By Sarah
2/20/2022
I Messed Up, Again
By Sarah
2/19/2022
My Tribe: Autism Moms Are The Best
By Sarah
2/18/2022
When Words Wound
By Sarah
2/16/2022
Craving Acceptance
By Sarah
2/15/2022
When Innocent People Suffer
By Sarah
2/14/2022
Rubbish
By Sarah
2/12/2022
The Voices In My Head
By Sarah
2/11/2022
Buffets
By Sarah
2/10/2022
The Process Not The Product
By Sarah
2/9/2022
Hidden Snacks, Ice Cream, And Fairness
By Sarah
2/8/2022
Rootless
By Sarah
2/7/2022
You Never See The Potato Masher Coming
By Sarah
2/5/2022
Forgiveness
By Sarah
2/4/2022
The Unnamed Victim
By Sarah
2/1/2022
Engraved
By Sarah
1/31/2022
Left Handed Hero
By Sarah
1/30/2022
Quarantine Time
By Sarah
1/26/2022
