Many people eat whatever is leftover in the refrigerator and call it “Leftover Night.” As frugal newlyweds, Ed and I saved and ate our leftover food on what we creatively called “Buffet Night.”
While growing up, our respective families taught Ed and me to be aware of the need to save food and not be wasteful. Our parents explained that others did not have as much food as we did. We were grateful for the food we had.
When our sons came along, we introduced them to Buffet Night. We added fun elements like using colorful plates and napkins from past birthday parties, Christmas and other occasions. We displayed the leftover food in pretty containers to make them look special. To decide who got first picks in the buffet line, we drew cards. High card went first, and the other cards followed. Buffet night became something we looked forward to instead of something we dreaded. Sometimes we even played board games after we cleaned up.
When our boys’ friends visited, our sons would ask if they could invite their friends to stay for Buffet Night. We of course said yes. The friends at first would say, “You mean leftover night?” When our sons described the fun plates, napkins and drawing cards to determine the lineup, the friends looked curious and stayed. They had fun and would ask to come again during another Buffet Night.
Now, Buffet Night reminds me of the line in the Our Father that says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” I’m grateful for the food God provides to nourish my body and especially grateful for the miraculous Eucharist that nourishes my soul. I imagine Ed smiling knowing we raised sons that are grateful men.
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Leonor “Leo” and Ed Rivera were members of the local Worldwide Marriage Encounter community for 32 of their 34 years of marriage until Ed unexpectedly died of a genetic heart defect on Aug. 1, 2020.
The 2026 Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are June 5-7 and Nov. 20-22 at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua.
Tags: Catholic Marriage
