Our family is coming off a very busy week. Saturday night was closing night of the stage performance: “Aladdin Jr.”; it was the sixth consecutive night of rehearsals and/or performances. We are all tired, but we are getting our feet back on the ground; I am tired, but I still need to cook dinner tonight: that is an obligation. But that obligation has the power to ignite creativity.

The obligation can ignite creativity, but first I must get beyond the “groan”: the groan of unwillingness. As long as I am complaining or moping or angry about my duties, I cannot move forward toward creativity (and the expression of love for my family). I must get past, “I’m too tired.” “There’s nothing in the house with which to prepare a meal.” ” I’m really tired.” and “Why do I have to do this?”…and on and on.

But when I commit to my obligation and duty within the constraints of my circumstances: in this case, limited physical resources both personally (my lack of energy) and in regards to the comestibles on hand (lack of a full larder), then…my obligation, my duty accepted, has the power to ignite creativity.

So, what did this creativity produce? Well,…the first night “post-production”, I served what I thought was a very, very insufficient masquerade for a meal – but my family, including my husband, loved it. It was a “yogurt-bar” of sorts. I mixed some protein powder and sweetening into a carton of goat yogurt, added some vanilla because I love vanilla, then set out several bowls of “additions”. These were: frozen fruit medley, dried banana chips, almonds, raisins, chopped apples, and a crispy cocoa cereal. Each of us created our own masterpieces. It was a nutritious, delicious and filling meal. It was also a “light” meal: nice after physically demanding days and nights.

The second “post-production” dinner was helped along by a little more preparation time. I still hadn’t been shopping yet, so the challenge of limited ingredients was still a consideration. I served baked potatoes, a quiche with some vegetables and cut-up lunch meat added and I pan-fried some cabbage (which my family loves) for a side dish. I made a yogurt-curry sauce for the potatoes and we made it through the second post-production dinner deliciously.

I didn’t have my menu planned, I didn’t have a lot of energy, I didn’t have a fully-stocked fridge or pantry, but I had an obligation and a duty. That responsibility accepted, ignited creativity. The end result was a happy, well-fed family; love and care had been tangibly communicated through the creative combining of very common ingredients.