One of our favorite traditions is making brownies together. Together Emma and Caleb carefully put the brownie mix in the bowl. Caleb (3) puts the water in the bowl and Emma (6) adds the oil. Each one helps crack an egg and as I add the eggs they always say, “oh…baby chicks in there,” or “don’t kill the egg!” Then we stir the batter. I have come to understand that they love the brownie batter even more than the brownies. I thought it would be a fun educational thing to teach Caleb to count to 50 as we stir. (As their Nana, I let them dig their spoons into the bowl to retrieve generous gobs of chocolate goo.) I wanted to see if Caleb could finish the count to fifty so I slowed with anticipation to the finishing count…. 46... 47…… 48……… 49……….. and…………….. Caleb then yelled out, “lick the bowl!!!”
Moral of the story: The means to an end is not so exciting or motivating if the end doesn’t have something good.
Scripture thought:
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:13–14)
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. (1 Corinthians 15:19–21)
February 7 Poor little Caleb came in with goopy eyes and announced, “I have junctitis”. He had been instructed to not hug anyone or get too close. This was tough for Emma and Caleb. It was difficult for them to avoid expressing their affection for one another. As Caleb and I were working in the kitchen he looked at me and said, “Nana, I love ‘Deety’ (an affectionate term that stuck from an early version of his effort to say ‘sister’). “God gave me such a wonderful sister.” In the other room Emma was with Papa. In the meantime she was expressing similar feelings for her brother. She looked at Papa and said, “I want to hug Caleb so much I’m going to have a love explosion!”
Moral of the story: Real love must be expressed and shown in action. When it comes from within, we just can’t hold it in.
Scripture thought:
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9)
February 14: My Valentine, Wyndham, was thousands of miles away in
Moral of the story: When we love someone, we run to share with them what is in our heart.
Scripture thought:
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8)
February 21: Caleb loves Star Wars. I found a “you tube” song earlier in the afternoon that I knew he would enjoy. And he did. He watched it about 5 times. As we stood there together, he planted a kiss on my cheek, hugged me and said, “I love you, Nana”. The pizza and brownies were over and it was nearing bedtime. It was quite cool outside and a nice fire was ensuring a relaxing atmosphere for all. As we watched Caillou, he wanted to sit on my lap (I suggested it) As we were sitting there, he put his little bare foot on mine. It was a chilly night. He looked up at me and said, “Nana, you are so warm”. I reflected on my relationship with God and how I need to “be still, and know that He is God”. He longs to hear me express love to him, and notice things about him that touch me.
Moral of the story: The presence of Jesus and my relationship with him is even more important that all the many activities that surround serving him.
Scripture thought:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)
February 28: Yechh!! This is bad!! You know by now we always make brownies. So, I had cashed in on a deal at the grocery store last week. 10 boxes of brownie mix for $10. It was also the store brand that I usually like. I bought 2 boxes. The brownies were made and it was time to lick the bowl. They dug in. At once they had terrible expressions and pushed the bowl away while gagging. Wondering what on earth could be the problem I put my spoon in and had a taste. I then understood why these were selling at such a bargain. Something was amiss in the ingredients; it tasted like there was a cup of salt in the batter. I thought if perhaps they were cooked, the bad flavor would cook away. So, we waited and waited and they were eager to give the taste test. Another yecchh!! The whole batch went in the trash and we had to switch to chocolate pudding.
Moral of the story: Purity of ingredients is a must for a recipe. No matter how hard we try, or what we add….if we don’t use the blueprint of the Bible for our lives the end result will be yechh!
Scripture thoughts:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
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