Dish It Out Or Already Dished Out?

One of the things we were encouraged to share with others, was our dining area for meals.

It was very new to me, because my idea of meals with others was either going to a restaurant or going to their crib. And I wasn’t bothered at all with how the meal was presented at their crib as long as I got some good grub.

There I was, though, with Mrs Dryden facing this new reality. Thankfully Mrs Dryden was more than accomplished about this arrangement. She knew what to do. At least I thought she knew what to do. At one of the first offerings of meals at our crib, she went to great lengths to ensure the variety and quality of the food was superb. What she also did was put the different foods in different containers so that the guests could take out their own portions of whatever was desired. That was a bit odd to me. Growing up I was very used to having the portion on the plate for me with all the portions in order and ready for me to tuck into it. If there was a desire for more, then at least I could ask. Yet I wouldn’t need to ask for more because my portions were plentiful.

I had seen the notion of dishing out your own portions in other settings. I made a note of it and understood why it was there, but I thought it was something for others to do. When I did have the opportunity to get my own portions it took me a while to appreciate that other people might want to have some of the food. Then I had to get used to the fact that I did have to take some of the food because the empty plate thing can look like a disrespect to the host. Especially if the food there is what you eat, not the things you want to avoid like the egg and the cheese and that kind of stuff. I got used to it in those settings, but it was not my regular setting. It wasn’t my speed or my style.

It turned out that way, however, when we did the dining room sharing meals thing. It was a bit odd for me because in essence we were adapting a style to be more accommodating to guests rather than give them the portion on their plate one time. What we were telling guests, was that they could sort out their own portions. We wouldn’t dictate it, they could have the liberty of having as much or as little as they wanted. As long as everyone had their portion and there was enough for everyone, that was the main thing.

Sometimes, I think that we can create setting where people just have a set portion to consume, rather than making it a case where people can get the portions they require. Sometimes even worse we can make it look as though the portions available are only the ones that have been dictated to them.

My wife knows what she’s doing, though. The feedback suggests they’ve enjoyed what they’ve consumed and the portions too.

(Photo by Amie Watson on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden