Whole Plates Full Hearts

It didn’t always feel this way. For a long time(4 years), cooking felt like just another task. It was something I didn’t have the time, energy, or know how for. But something’s shifted in my heart. What once felt like a weighty chore has become one of the most sacred parts of my day. Feeding my family has started to feel like holy work.

Overwhelmed to Open-Handed

There was a season when I let myself believe the lie that “I don’t know how.” And maybe at the time, that was partly true. I was working full time, raising two littles, literally barely keeping up. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and if I’m honest… deep down I had grown a bit lazy. Lazy in the sense that I wasn’t even willing to try.

I’m so thankful for my husband and how patient he was with me in that season. He took on a lot of (if not all) the cooking while God was working on my heart.

Learning to Embrace the Work

This last year, I’ve leaned into learning again. I’ve been growing in all things homemaking or “keeping” whichever ha. From trying my hand at sourdough (which I love!) harvesting veggies in our garden. May I just add was a total and still is a new thing but wow the fun!! And hopefully soon I will try milling our own flour. Through it all I have just been choosing to show up. To do the task even when I don’t feel like it. And somewhere along the way, I started enjoying it.

I’m having so much fun feeding my family real, whole foods and making them meals that I know are truly nourishing their bodies.

Homemade Takes Work and It’s Worth It

Okay. Real talk now… Making things homemade can be exhausting. There’s chopping, soaking, cleaning, and prepping. And then doing it all over again. But there’s nothing like knowing exactly what’s in our food. That’s the main reason I try to make our meals at home. 

And full transparency, I am not out here making 5 star meals every day. I try to live by the 80/20 rule. It kinda ebs and flows with each week too. Lol. That’s the beauty of making food at home, not every meal needs to be fancy to be delish. Truthfully sometimes keeping it simple is key, especially with toddlers! 

God’s Way Is the Better Way

What’s surprised me most in all of this homemaking thing is how it’s actually felt easier. Not like “oh wow this is such a breeze!” but more like my soul feels lighter. I feel like there’s a peace and rhythm to the “work” when I approach it the way God designed. I feel like when I’m slow, intentional, and grounded in love something shifts. It’s almost like an exchange occurs. 

I don’t really know how else to describe it but I sure hope I’m not alone in that feeling.

A Holy Calling

Overall, I’m learning that keeping the home is not a burden. It’s a calling. And being able to feed the people I love is one of the most beautiful parts of it. I see now that the daily work of preparing food, serving with love, and nourishing my family matters deeply. And I believe it brings glory to God.

If you’re in the thick of it
So if you’re in a place where the kitchen feels like chaos or you’re stuck in the “I don’t know how” cycle, let me encourage you. Start small! I often find that God meets us in the little steps. The everyday acts of care and consistency are deeply spiritual. Feeding your family is holy work, and you’re not doing it alone.
Praise God!!!