A few weeks back a group of us from our church had gathered together to prepare some freezer meals. Our gatherings are always a good time. Not only do we feel good about making meals to assist others, our relationships with each other deepen. Typically we prepare BBQ’s, lasagna, chicken potpie and tator tot hotdish. Since I have been making tator tot hotdish for over 25 years, I confidently gave the instructions to the individuals assigned to this task. Brown the ground beef, drain, mix with cream soup, a bit of milk and spread out in pan. Add a layer of your choice of veggies. Dump the tots on top. Viola’ you have tator tot hotdish. Imagine my surprise when one of the individuals, instead of dumping the tator tots, he was carefully lining the tots up in a rows. Now, I am a gardener, so I am familiar with corn rows, bean rows, carrot rows, etc. Rows of tator tots?? I hadn’t ever seen anyone put tator tots in rows. I didn’t know such a thing could be done. With my heart racing… I politely asked, “What are you doing?” He explained to me, the rows of tots look nicer and with the rows it is easier to serve. Amazing…all I ever knew was to dump the tots on top and scoop out your serving. Now, you are probable wondering, why am I wasting your time writing about such a simple thing as tator tots in rows or dumped? Well, you could say, I found a few spiritual lessons with those tots. First of all, there is more than one way of doing things. As a church community made up of several individual members, this experience reminded me that there are multiple ways to achieve the same goal. Like the tots being lined up or dumped, neither is right or wrong, just different. Both end up with same result, a delicious meal. Secondly, I learned that in a community there will be some individuals, like the tots, who need to be lined up and neat, while the others of us are okay being dumped and scattered. The reminder is that God loves us either way!!
How do you make your tatortot hotdish? Do you line up the tots in a row or do you dump the tots on top? Is there an advantage to either?
Sometimes life can be like a tator tot hotdish...we take the time to be all pretty and lined up and there are times when all we can do is dump and scoop.
6 comments:
Kim, This really made me chuckle. I, too, have been making tator tot hotdish for years and it has never once even ocurred to me not to "dump." Great lesson in there from something so ordinary! Thanks. I might even try the rows next time!
I never heard of this dish and I am always looking for new recipes. I am going to add this to my repetoire and call it Kim's Tator Tot Hotdish - with spiritual lesson on the side :-)
Kim, thanks for your visit the other day. Sometimes I wonder if my art and words are reaching people. So glad you enjoyed my post.
I must say I am a dumper! Let's just get that hotdish done! Now, I am married to a tater tot liner upper. :)
Kim, I also have never heard of this dish but it sounds yummy! I love the lesson that you bring from this dish. There are many roads that lead to Rome! Glad to see that you are feeling better!
That is a great life observance!!! I found that when I made tater tot hotdish, I liked lining them up. It's weird, because in so many other areas, I like a free-for-all dump it where it lands spirit. And, there I was, taking time to make lines. Hmm...makes me wonder.
Kim, what a great analogy! When it comes to the Lord, I line my prayers up AFTER I thank Him for being such an awesome God, for sending His Son, and for giving us grace. Then I line my prayers up, starting with please forgive me for being such a ditz, or whatever offense my tiny brain has allowed me to see, followed by a jillion prayers, each one followed by "if that is Your will." I'm sure He sees me coming a mile away, because I'm pretty predictable about covering all my bases and His.
Post a Comment