“So, whether you eat or drink,
or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God”
~1 Corinthians 10:31
I gave my youngest son a gift the other day after school – silence on the ride home. As the car climbed the mountain to home, I pointed out, “Just to make sure you understand – this silence is a gift. I don’t want you to accuse me later of not paying attention to you”
“I know, Mom,” he answered, with a smile that told me he valued this gift. He’s 16 and, right now, he and his 18 year old brother are sharing a car, hence the ride with mom.
This youngest one, he’s an introvert (an engineer-type like his dad) – until he’s not. When he’s not, roll the camera – it’s a sight to see.
One evening last week, as I was cleaning the kitchen, he slid onto one of the five stools at the kitchen counter. I hadn’t cooked dinner. I think I’d brought in t0-go because I’d been run down from the three-week crud going around.
He unleashed a lecture on me: ” Mom. . . Mom! You’re slipping. What happened to the breakfasts – the homemade pancakes, the granola bars made with the oatmeal with the picture of the man wearing a wig, the eggs and bacon sandwiches with ketchup? Breakfast used to be your BEST. You only have a few more years before we’re gone. I think you need to step it up. You’re slacking – you need to push through – Be Your Best with the time you have left with us at home.”
Teens like turning the table – giving your words right back at you wrapped in one liners and lectures.
I stood on the other side of the counter, cleaning up after having let the kitchen go for a while under the weather. Really, to be honest – I probably hadn’t really been my best since right before this time last year when I’d been hospitalized with pneumonia – this time last year when this same boy the day before I’d gone into the hospital had asked me for “Just one Word, Mom” – because I’d stopped talking -Talking cost so much physically. All the boys were a bit unnerved that I’d stopped. But when this boy asked for one word, I gave him that one word – he’d bartered a two minute snuggle for that one word – and, well, no matter how ill, I guess the mom in me values that more than anything in the world. But I digress.
I stood in the kitchen, drying soup bowls,rinsing milk out of glasses, smiling sheepishly – admiring my son’s eloquence, loving that he admitted enjoying one of my love languages (not the talking gift, but the cooking gift) – and dismayed that one of my sons labeled me a slacker.
Later, as I mulled over what he’d said to me, I realized that since I was released from the hospital last year, I have baked through this year-long recovery – and it has been a year-long recovery. Two months after pneumonia, I had a complete hysterectomy (planned) – accompanied by plantar fasciitis. I went from walking three miles about three times a week to not being able to even walk to my mail box. There were other challenges, too, maybe just as you had your individual brand of challenges.
After you have prayed, what do you do? How do you walk through, push through, live the daily through your challenges?
We all have different ways of pushing through these challenges There have been challenges I’ve knitted through, written through and just stood through. Last year, I baked through.A few weeks ago, I drove my sons to Death at Dawn (a two week running event in our community at 5:30 a.m.). I did my own version, walking around town, climbing the bleachers -to, finally, reach my three-mile goal. I’d pushed through to rebuild my strength.
This last year, I’ve felt like an introvert – and wondered where my extrovert went. No knitting. Not much writing. I gardened, grew zinnias and cooked soups, stews and bisques. I grilled cheese, burgers and brats. I baked and baked and baked cakes, cookies, brownies, cake pops – and cakes and cakes and more cakes. Of course, it helps to have 5 sons with 5 birthdays plus grand girlies and beautiful daughter-in-laws to bake for. That’s at least 10 birthdays a year – but baking steadied me. It allowed me to love when the words didn’t come, the directions wouldn’t knit – and, well, the get-up-and-go just wanted to stay home.
God met me in the baking – in my kitchen – over the flour, vanilla, sugar, chocolate, flavorings and fixin’s. Measurement by measurement – faith step by faith step over big and little things that make up the daily – my father and I met there, shared the big and little things on my heart – and I just trusted it was o.k. to have this quiet that left me wordless. I didn’t chase ideas down rabbit holes, searching them out like I’ve done all my life. In the quiet, he assured me this was exactly how he wanted it for now. I didn’t need to know why. I just needed to live faith in it.
A few years ago, this quiet would have unnerved me – but I have learned to trust that He’s got the plan- and this year, I’ve trusted him so very much about this quiet, wordlessness. Somehow, all this baking (but, apparently, not cooking the good breakfasts) has been my way of trusting, my way of walking my faith in the daily, of pushing through by trusting that my faith in the hope of his care, all will be well.
This has been a year of baking sandwiched between a son asking for, “Just one word, Mom” and giving a lecture encouraging me to start doing my best again, at least with breakfast.
I realized as I was cleaning my kitchen one evening last week, that we all have different ways of pushing through challenges. I have baked my way through the last 365 Days, so much so that my boys are tired of cakes. The Year of Baking Through is done.
I don’t know about this next year. I don’t know if the words will come more frequently. Maybe my extrovert will re-assert itself. I do know one son graduates from high school in May. Another son and his sweet wife are having a baby boy in July. In between is the daily and all its challenges, the best breakfasts and God’s plans for it all! I will taste and see that the Lord is good! I will take refuge in Him – and be blessed! (Psalm 34:8, paraphrased).
“They Broke Bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts” ~Acts 2:46
Your words are so eloquent and edifiying…and, oh, my, all of that food looks amazing! God has gifted you in so many, many ways…your family is very blessed to have you…and, we are so blessed that you share with us here. 🙂
Thank you, Cheryl for coming by and being so encouraging! Still praying that God heal your niece!
I LOVE to bake. There is something comforting in it. Perhaps you should share some of your favorite recipes!
Yes – there is something comforting – settling in baking. My blog has a Recipes Page at the top of my blog that lists many of my favorite recipes – with stories that go with them! Praying your week is filled with God’s Shalom, Elizabeth! ~ Maryleigh
I’m not a baker at all but sure enjoyed your words and the pictures are making me hungry! 🙂
Luckily, I had a pot of stew on when I was working on this. Monday and Tuesdays are stew/soup days in our house. It makes cooking so much easier. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and the words. Thank you for stopping by and leaving kind encouragement! ~ Maryleigh
“In the quiet, he assured me this was exactly how he wanted it for now. I didn’t need to know why. I just needed to live faith in it.” Oh, this is speaking to me today! I am also learning to “live faith” in a slower season in my own life. Thank you for your words of encouragement. And I remember those years with the teenage sons and their words of wisdom! Never a dull moment, they were! I’m blessed to be your neighbor over at #TeaAndWord today!
I love when it’s quiet in my house, but was discomforted by the quiet in me. I love how he takes me through a season and teaches me how to live it – So glad I understand to just turn to him and trust to teach me how to turn gracelessness into grace. I’m so glad you came by! Thank you for your words of encouragement. Praying God’s Shalom infuse your week! ~ Maryleigh
I love how God meets us in different ways and provides us with what we need to get through the challenges. Your baking looks amazing!
In our differences, we are never lacking – He’s such a thoroughly detail Father-God! My boys laugh about my food photos – but it’s so fun to combine those two activities! Praying God’s Shalom in your week! Thank you for stopping by! ~ Maryleigh
Maryleigh,
Oh, how I related to your words about giving an introvert child the gift of silence. I am in awe of your baking skills. And I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had pneumonia. And yes, God meets us in the silence…especially. May God continue to strengthen and encourage you in all ways, my friend. ((hugs)) Thanks to you, I begin the book club question the week of Feb. 19.
Dolly, I wish I had understood earlier about the how and the need to give the gift of silence. About a year ago, I apologized to my second born for talking him to death growing up – and it was like fingers on a chalk-board to him probably – just like it is to my youngest. I regret I did not understand earlier. I am looking forward to your Book Club Question of the Week! I will be there! You are such a beautiful encourager! Praying God’s Shalom in your week!
Thank you for sharing such lovely words and beautiful food. Your cooking must be truly amazing! If you haven’t already, please get your pneumovax shot and your prevnar13 shot. They were recommended by our Dr. to prevent many kinds of pneumonia. Hope you are recovering and regaining your strength. In the ‘quiet’ we can really experience God and hear the Holy Spirit’s voice speaking to our hearts. Blessings, Bev
I got my shots – for the first time! I don’t know that my cooking is amazing, but it is one way I can love my family when words are not their love language! Thank you for stopping by. Praying God’s Shalom in your week! ~ Maryleigh
This was such a poignant, beautifully written post! Thank you so much for sharing. I leave your blog feeling very blessed.
🙂
Thank you for stopping by Karen – and leaving such kind encouragement! Praying God’s Shalom fill your week!
This is such a gift to my heart, friend. I love this…I get this, the baking through in the language of love and healing. So much goodness and faith are exposed in the anthem of your year of healing,Maryleigh. A testimony of hope and rest in the One who orchestrated the restoration your body and soul required. Thank you for spilling grace here, and especially with my words as you have encouraged me continually. I have yet to respond to those gifts you left, but they were missives of mercy for my heart.
Bless you!!
❤Dawn
Dawn, I believe you are right – we are kindred spirits – cooking our way through “loving our people and remembering those who are no longer here” – and they are good remembrances or we wouldn’t enjoy the cooking so much! Your words blessed me – still thinking about how God EXPECTS us to enlarge our tents before we even know we should and for what! Shalom, friend! ~ Maryleigh
I enjoyed reading this because I have experienced this in 2016 and even some this year. Trying to navigate thru a different and hard year by perhaps focusing on something new and something practical. A place to put nervous energy and fly away thoughts. An outlet. I’m sorry you have faced such health problems. I know all of your loves enjoyed eating the fruit of
Your getting through. Apparently cooking is one of your gifts. Sometimes you read things and know exactly what someone means because you have experienced the feelings and thoughts yourself. “Me too. ” you think. I actually thought about writing about my “getting through ” season in similar fashion. Your quietness of soul reminds me of psalm 131. I want a quiet soul too.
Maryleigh, what a personal, powerful story about your difficult year. May healing continue to come, may you find your own ‘new normal,’ may you give yourself great grace with each step …
First of all, I just watched the tv show The Middle last night and they were talking about this same thing, Maryleigh. Frankie, the mom, said she needed to start doing her best again. Now, granted, their “best” on the Middle is far from what you do, it seems, but I love the truth you and your son bring to us today. There are times when we need to pull away and just “be” and after we’ve refueled, we get back in the game–with baking, knitting or whatever ministers to those in our lives and families. Love this post, my friend, and I’m praying you feel more and more like the best version of you as the days go by!
Oh I loved reading about your baking adventures and how baking steadied you and inspired you to keep pressing on! Creating food for the ones we love can sometimes dishearten us with the effort or give us hope for tomorrow — it obviously strengthened you! Thanks for all the delectable photos!
I love your sweet way of showing us that God meets us everywhere even in baking. I love seeing your pictures on FB or Instagram and feel the joy that when you share your food creations you are sharing love with us. Your sons recognize that in you too. Beautiful stories of God teaching us even in the most ordinary.
Praying that 2017 is a year of good health, and redeemed energy for you Maryleigh. It’s amazing how much our health, or lack, can change us. I’m still sorting through a lot of that change myself. I’m thankful God met you in the kitchen, between the sifting and the measuring. What a blessed experience. Blessings on your weekend.