When I was growing up, Saturday mornings were predictable. No matter what time of the year it was, Saturday meant cleaning. Saturday morning also meant baking. Mom preferred to work together on both of these projects. I (being at that age) preferred to work alone. So, the question was always, Want to do the baking? Want to do the cleaning? No brainer, you may be thinking. Nevertheless, on those really hot days and with no air-conditioning, sometimes cleaning called to me.
On most Saturdays, however, I called for the baking. Baking at the Abel household--a house with five boys, one girl, and two parents--was not a creative event in that we were consistent. It never varied: a 9 x 13 pan of chocolate cake, a double batch of chocolate chip cookies, and two loaves of bread. All made from scratch, of course, and expected to last the entire week.
Several days ago was my mother's birthday. She died of a very rare cancer three years ago. I think of her daily, but I especially think about her on her birth date. Pulling out a dark chocolate cake mix (yes, times have changed), I added eggs, oil and water and started the hand mixer. While it was baking, I assembled the ingredients for a home-made, seven-minute frosting and set a place mat at my counter with my mother's mother's dishes--antique and fragile. A tea cup with saucer, a dessert plate--both hand-painted with dainty flowers.
With the frosting whipped and swirled on a slightly cooled cake, I made a fresh cup of hot coffee with my Mr. Coffee single-cup maker, and sat down to think about my mom on this, her birthday. The house was quiet; the birds could be heard outside in spite of the hum of an air-conditioning unit. I watched the leaves from a nearby tree barely move in the wind as the chocolate cake melted in my mouth still warm from the oven.
Have you ever read the book of Esther from the Old Testament? The word "God" is not used once, yet it is behind every word. (More on Esther later.) Point? With my experience on Mother's birthday, God was there. God had given me this beautiful, wonderful mom as a gift. Praise God. She was important to me when I was growing up; she is important to me today.
This week:
1) Say a prayer
2) Ask God to forgive you for your worries, your busy-ness
3) Think about all the good God has given you and give thanks
4) Pray for peace and understanding
5) Give praise
Thou dost keep her mind in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Isaiah 20:3
No comments:
Post a Comment