Use The Good Dishes….

A few years ago, I attended a memorial service for a co-worker's sister who had passed away unexpectedly in her early 30's. This woman had two young children and an adoring husband, and I remember my co-worker telling me that her sister had just that past weekend made an amazing holiday dinner (it had been Easter I think) and had served it on her “good wedding dishes”, using them for the first time ever, even though she had been married for more than 5 years.

And I remember my co-worker, in all of her grief, looking me in the eye and telling me “Don't wait to use your good dishes.”

“Use the Good Dishes”…

All these years later, those words have stuck with me. Because I think so often we look at some of the beautiful belongings that we have in our lives, and we put them away- place them high up on a shelf or deep in the back of a closet, and we save them for a “special day”.

These items are so beautiful and so precious to us, that we worry more about losing them, than using them.

And yes, I know that with young children in the house, special plates can be broken, and delicate linens can be ruined.

But is it truly better to have them stored away where you can't see them and where they can't bring you the simple joy of just looking at them?

Today I walked around to look at some of the things that I've put away in my own home- my grandmother's crystal wine goblets, my wedding china, a lovely piece of jewelry, or even a beautiful cashmere sweater that I love but never wear.

What bothers me the most is that it's not just that I put them away to keep them safe when the kids were younger. I've now forgotten about them as they remain hidden away.

And that makes me feel sad. It's almost as if I didn't have them at all!

So let's take my co-worker's advice. Let's not put off our enjoyment of life for a time in the future. Let's get out the good dishes tonight and use them.

What do you have at your home that you are saving and not using?