Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”—Luke 12:15 (NIV)

When I moved from Wyoming to New Hampshire to help my ailing parents, I had planned to stay one year, then return to Big Sky. I shoved most of my possessions into storage—where they languished for fifteen years. No, I never returned “home.” One casualty of the move was flatware I had scrimped to purchase. Nothing special, except the pieces matched. By the time I cleared out the storage unit, I figured it would cost more to ship it than buy new back East. I gave it away. 

God provided generously when I furnished my new apartment: sofa, chairs, dining set, bookcases came my way. Even flatware. Cheap and mismatched but serviceable. Other yard sale finds like dishes and glassware complemented my eclectic, Boho décor. 

Still, I rankled at the flimsy flatware, perhaps because I missed my hard-earned set. When I reflected that much of the world needed food, never mind fancy eating utensils, I talked myself out of buying more. I didn’t want to forget world hunger. Then, I’d flip and wish again for a matched set. This continued for six years! Finally, I bought a simple service for four for $25. 

I didn’t open the box for weeks; feelings of guilt ambushed me. Eventually, I stored the new stainless with the old pieces and used both. Then another surprise caught me off guard. Instead of forgetting the hungry, the old, flimsy pieces remind me to share with the local food pantry, the vibrant Friendly Kitchen—where the “chandelier” features dangling flatware.