"BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"BIG BERTHA"

Meet Big Bertha.She has been the "Workhorse" of my kitchen since the early 1980's.

Big Bertha and I have made countless Birthday cakes, cookies, breads and pies together through the years. She is a little like the Bionic Woman, she doesn't have all her original parts. She's had her motor replaced, a new button here and there and a couple of other parts I had to scout for on eBay.

We have been through alot together. Lived in a dozen houses in several states.We have canned hundreds of jars of jams, pickles and salsa's together. She has perched upon Butcher block, Formica, and Granite. Withstood the fashion decor from 1980's calico wallpaper and 1990's stencils to more recent bead board and subway tiles. Nearly four decades later she still runs like a champ! 

"Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?" Proverbs 20:6

Nevertheless, when the sales clerk at the department store started spouting off reasons why I needed a new Kitchen-aid and rattling  her pitch on the once in a lifetime deal and how this new machine would drastically change my life, I fell. I fell hard. I bit the bait. Hook line and sinker. Head over heels. I was starry-eyed. "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs." I was imagining myself making homemade pasta and cupcakes with mile high butter cream frosting, pies with meringue, tapioca, truffles and trifles. I dreamed of owning one of these power houses since I was a teenager in Miss Davis's Home-Ec class. 

Now the only obstacle in my way was deciding between the colors Classic white or Stainless steel?

Big Bertha who? We had our share of good times. But here was this fancy beautiful brand new sleek shiny machine sitting right in front of me. Any questions? Only one choice right?

 Breaking up is hard to do. 

The clerk promised delivery by Christmas. I was elated. Cloud nine over the moon excited.

I came home and knew what I had to do. There she was sitting on the kitchen counter. With her glass nesting bowls all sparkly from the sunlight. I got a box out from the closet and started to gather all the attachments. The dough hook, the food chopper the meat grinder, the blender. Oh my, I forgot all the special features Bertha had! Every attachment I put into the box sparked another memory.

We had such a history. She and I shared so much. I knew all her little quirky flaws and she knew mine. How could I let her go? Sure she was a little worn around the edges(like me) and wasn't as beautiful as her modern contenders, but she still worked great! She was a survivor! A faithful friend. They just don't make them like Big Bertha anymore.  

A few days later the UPS man delivered the boxes with the new "Kitchen-aid." They weighed a ton!

My very confused and patient  husband drove me back to the  department store where I promptly returned the boxes and it's  contents to customer service. 

"Big Bertha" and I worked the holidays together again. I used to look at her and think someday I am going to replace you with something bigger and better. Now I look at her and think, Wow you look good for what you have been through! You're a hard worker. I am so glad I decided to keep you! 

 Sometimes we have to let go of old things to make room for new things. Sometimes we have all that we need right in front of us and we just need to recognize it and count our blessings.

It's easy to get caught in the enemy's trap of material things. Coveting something new when there is nothing wrong with what we already have.

"Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed." Luke 12:15

 The newest and the biggest isn't always the best.

 Be thankful for what you have and you'll always be blessed!

We took the extra money that was refunded for the Kitchen-aid and purchased Bibles for persecuted Christians in foreign countries instead! Material things fade away but God's Word will last forever! 

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."Colossians 3:2

"But the word of the Lord lasts forever." 1 Peter1:25


HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Donna Selma Lind