October 21, 2024
I have a friend who is a bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out deals for wholesome foods or plants. If there’s a random post on Facebook about produce for cheap, she knows about it!
Well, recently she found a whopper of a deal. She sent me a picture of a pallet of apples asking if I wanted to buy any. I politely declined stating how busy my schedule is and how I couldn’t possibly process so many apples.
Fast forward a few hours and my children came into the house with apples in hand. My curiosity was piqued. Where did you get the apples? “Miss Rachel gave them to us,” they casually replied. (My friend also happens to be a neighbor.) “Oh,” I said, and looking out the window I saw quite the activity around a pallet of apples complete with a pop-up tent to shield the operation from bright sunlight.
Rachel texted saying I did not have to buy the whole pallet. Hmmm. No longer disinterested, I stroll over to the neighborhood apple stand to see what all the buzz was about.
After all was said and done, I came home with 55 pounds of apples. I even got free delivery service as a kind friend delivered the apples right to my front door step with the family John Deere tractor. Now that’s a humdinger of a deal!
When I first mentally encountered the possibility of buying a large quantity of apples, my mind immediately dismissed the possibility and instantly conjured up an image of standing in the kitchen for hours processing apples. The task of processing a mass of apples in addition to normal life and homeschool operations overwhelmed me, but quickly I realized the value of making time for the apples and the blessings they would bring to my family. There was value in purchasing and preserving the apples for my family, but I had to come to a point mentally where I could break apart the individual tasks into manageable chunks.
This apple scenario reminded me of a few basic life principles, especially when it comes to getting tasks or projects done. Sometimes I do not bother trying tasks that I really should try just because they seem too hard. A perfectionist may think, “I must complete the entire project/task right now. If I cannot guarantee perfect completion, I will not even try.” You ask, “How do you know?” Because I’ve been in that mental rut far too often.
So how do you tackle 55 pounds of apples? It’s a deep, dark secret… Here’s the answer: one apple at a time.
Break It Down
How do you complete a project? One step at a time. Break it down into manageable chunks. How do you process 55 pounds of apples? For me that meant one batch of apple processing at a time: a batch of apple pie filling, then a batch of applesauce, another batch of apple pie filling, and finally, a vinegar bath for the remaining apples to be kept in the fridge.
Part of maturity is the ability to mentally map out a project’s course from beginning to end. Once I understand where I am going (ie have my mental road map in place), now I must further break apart the project into “touchable tasks.” My hands could only touch a few apples at a time. I couldn’t make everything at once but rather had to decide on one recipe at a time. Once a recipe was chosen, then one apple at a time, I completed the recipe at hand.
Spread It Out
In our age of pictures and social media, we are constantly bombarded with perfect, already-completed projects nicely displayed and styled for our astonished viewing. It’s easy to want projects to be done and done right now, but consistency over a period of time brings about project completion. Any project that is worth our valuable time usually takes consistent effort over a period of time.
Consistency over a period of time brings about project completion.
I did not have time to cook and prepare the apples in one day. Rather, by dealing with the apples one recipe at a time over a period of 3 days, I was able to complete the desired goal.
Friends, life can be overwhelming at times, and sometimes it’s hard to know what is worth our valuable time. By planning ahead and breaking down projects into “touchable tasks” we can accomplish much for the Lord and for our families. May you have a blessed week accomplishing the necessary little by little.
-Ashley
Personal Disclosure
As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.
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What a blessing!
wow! well said ashley. I need this. I've wasted lots of my time.. i get ovewhelmed easy