Not sure when I got them, Grandma’s pots, pans and Pyrex; but I’m sure I have had them since the late 1970’s. I do not remember the day I received them nor the circumstances that surrounded that special event. Nonetheless, 45+ years later, they are my still my “go-to” pots, pans and Pyrex. They are tried and true, fail proof.
Some things just don’t need to be updated or changed. Over the past 45 years, I am certain I have purchased, used, and thrown away a minimum of 10, yup 10, sets of “the best” pots and pans on the planet! All the newest and best “non-stick” pots and pans have depleted my wallet, graced my stove and ended up in the trash. Martha Stewart, Ina Garten, Emeril, Rachael Rae, you name it, I’ve tried it. Always, without exception, I default to Grandma’s pots, pans and Pyrex.
Grandma’s pots and pans are copper bottomed. They clean up easily with a dip in tomato sauce for a few minutes. They do not have some secret super-special non-stick, super-slide even-cook attribute to lure on-line shoppers to bite the “But wait! There’s more!” bait that so easily sucks the money out of our wallets via PayPal’s “buy now, pay later” plan.
And then there’s Grandma’s Pyrex, a set of nesting Pyrex bowls that Ina Garten would die for. Apparently, according to the current selling price on eBay, a lot of people would die for these old bowls. Mine, however, are not for sale. They are priceless to me, and they will grace my kitchen until, well, until I don’t. Then, I hope and pray my kids and grandkids will continue to be blessed by the magic that these pots, pans and Pyrex have blessed this family with for so many decades.
I love to imagine my grandma busily making pancakes, bacon and eggs for my then-toddler mom; or making her delicious clam chowder, filling her home with the fragrant aroma of bacon drippings, onions and clams! I love the memory of my mom, now a great-grandma, busily making pancakes, bacon and eggs for the then-toddler me and my siblings, and the fragrant aroma of bacon drippings, onions and clams which meant delicious clam chowder for dinner. And best of all, how I cherish the memory of me, now a grandma, using the same pots, pans and pyrex to feed my family the same old recipes. These pots, pans and Pyrex have definitely earned a permanent place in this family’s kitchen.
Why are we continuously striving for a pot that is bigger; a skillet that is slicker? Why do we desire something that promises to give us “more”? And really, does it? If so, why do I always default to Grandma’s pots, pans and Pyrex? I am perfectly content using these decade’s old pots, pans and Pyrex. There is literally no product that is better than my Grandma’s pots, pans and Pyrex. They are tried and true. Nothing can make them better.
It is important that, not just in the kitchen, but in every aspect of our lives we guard against being lured in to the “But wait, there’s more!” sales-pitch. It’s the same bait that satan used in the Garden of Eden. He lured (there’s that word again) Eve, and tricked her into eating from the one forbidden tree. He tricked her into believing that in doing so, there was more in store for her than that which God had purposed for her. And she bit the bait. Literally. Hook, line and sinker.
Mine is a fishing family, and any fishing family understands the purpose of a lure. It is used to trick and kill unsuspecting fish.
The Hebrew word for lure is “yaw-koshe'” and it means “to draw to the lure; to allure or invite by means of anything that promises pleasure or advantage; to entice, to attract, allure, tempt, solicit, lead on, decoy”.
We must be very careful to not be lured away from biblical truth. the Bible doesn’t change, and does not need to be replaced or updated with some newfangled concept. We must carefully guard our hearts and minds and continually ask the Lord to protect us from that which would lure, tempt, solicit, and lead us on a path of compromise and discontent. We must examine everything through the lens of the Holy Word of God, the Bible. If the shiny new pot, pan or Pyrex which lures you does not sync with God’s Word, it is a decoy, it is a lie. There is nothing new under the sun, and like Chuck Smith has said, “If it’s new, it’s not true. If it’s true, it’s not new.”
The Word of God is tried and true, fail proof. It provides all the spiritual food we need, and if anyone says “But wait! There’s more!” know this – there isn’t.
Father God, protect our hearts and minds. Help us to not be lured away from the solid rock of Your son, Jesus. Cause us to keep the truths of Your Holy Word hidden in our hearts. And Lord, protect our children and grandchildren. Lure them straight to Yourself. Amen
Beyond all Measure 