What Are You Saving It For?

What Are You Saving It For?

Do you have those items that are “too good” to use?  For me it used to be dishes, serving pieces or decorative pieces.  Don’t use the “good china”!  I’d find myself gravitating to the items that are not as nice, avoiding those that need to be hand washed, are part of our family history, or are deemed too good to use.

But why?  I’d find myself passing over these items time and time again, never using them.  What’s the point if no one gets to see how beautiful the details are, how much attention went into hand painting the pattern, or enjoy the thought of all the other family dishes served with these peces?

I have since given my kitchen a makeover.  Gone are the miss-matched dishes and serving items.  Gone are the pieces that are ok but not great.  Now we are embracing the “good china”, using it daily, enjoying history, designs and stories they can tell.  

Yes, some pieces require hand washing, but I can do it (or better yet, enlist the help of the rest of the family).  Sometimes the best moments are those just spent together.  “You wash, I’ll dry” gives you a good reason to spend some time together.  You just might hear a story about someone’s day you might not have heard otherwise.  

You know those moments in the car when you are driving the kids somewhere and they share a story, seemingly out of the blue with you? Those moments are the ones that fill our days with good memories.  The car turns into a cone of silence, and they are more comfortable to share what’s on their minds.   Well, the kitchen sink can turn into the same cone of silence, allowing someone to share a thought or experience with you.  

Yes, we break some of the “good china” along the way.  But those moments are usually a story to remember as well.  

If we haven’t learned to use the good china, enjoy every day, and be grateful for every moment together, we need to actively make it happen. Soon the kids will grow on to their own places, and our family dinners will be few, and far between. 

Use the “Good China”, what are you saving it for?