Nov 02 2004
Statute of limitations?
I have been kind of in a twist about this topic but decided to share it because I would like some sort of feedback.
When Fuller was born our pastor came to visit us in the hospital. He informed me that the traditional meals from the church family would start after my parents finished their visit. Makes sense.. I don’t think that people would want to be making a meal for 6-8 people, especially when some of those people are very capable of cooking while I recovered from the birth experience.
I told him that my parents would be here 2 weeks.
It has now been 2 weeks since my parents left and no meals from the church. This actually doesn’t surprise me because our church has been bogged down lately with organizing meals for people- many people have been having babies (one other baby even shares Fuller’s birthday), there were 2 deaths, and some other needs may have been thrown in the mix too. So it is completely understandable that we may have been forgotten.
Last week I asked D to talk to our Shepherding Elder about this. D did as asked and was told that if we hadn’t heard anything by last Friday to call Elder’s wife. Well, Friday passed and we hadn’t heard anything. I meant to talk to the wife on Sunday, but they left church quickly and I didn’t get a chance.
Now, here is my dilemma: Do I still call the wife and see about getting the meals? Yes, they would help us out (one less thing for me to think about), but is there some sort of statute of limitations on the actual need for the meals?
We are one month into this parenting thing. I have gotten over feeling like I am on vacation and am settling into being a stay at home mom. I have been cooking the food that my mom prepared and froze for us and I have even been to the grocery store to pick up more food and fix some meals from scratch. (Ask D about the awesome bruschetta I fixed on Sunday.)
I think the traditional meals from the church family are for people who need the respite from that one other thing to think about while they are dealing with whatever stress is in their life. I just don’t know if I (we) still fall into this category.
Of course, ask me what we are having for dinner when I have only had 4 hours of sleep. Then I might be begging for someone to come cook for me.
Does anyone have Emeril’s number?
I think you should be taken care of (aka loved) just as much as anyone else in the church, so I wouldnt worry about limitations and such.
I’d call the pastor’s wife (who organizes such things if I’m not mistaken) and say you’re ready for meals now. I imagine that there’s just been miscommunication (due to aforementioned chaos) and it’ll be sorted out soon.
anyway, do you like chicken & broccoli casserole?
Sure, I like chicken & broccoli! I think D does too…
There will be a meal coming from us as well. We are sorry to hear that you were not cared for as you should have been…I wish I could give advice on the sleep dilemma; but Oliver is now nearly 8 mo. and we are still up a few times each night.
Thanks cooleys! I am feeling the love already… and I did as bobw suggested, contacted Pastor’s wife via email. Thanks for the encouragement.
Mercy meals are the greatest thing ever. My first thought was that if you don’t need the food then don’t worry about reminding your church. But then again, a huge part of such meals is that others are allowed to serve and you’re allowed to receive — an important aspect to being a part of the Body. And hey, a sleep-deprived woman can use all the help she can get!
You had bruschetta? And you didn’t invite me? See… now… I’ve you’d have invited me, I’d have brought baked ziti and a fruit salad, the leftovers of which you might still have been munching on.
But seriously, these first couple of months are the hardest you’ll be going through (until he’s thirteen, but we’ll talk about that later). The fact that you seem outwardly (and inwardly, too) to be doing so well may be leading others to believe that you don’t need help. I agree with Rebecca that asking for help is a gift to those around us, because if gives them an opportunity to give of themselves.
~A~