PIES

Pies have been an accomaniment of my development ever since I embarked on my journey of life, August 12, 1958.

I was brought home from the hospital directly to my grandmother's home in Nimrod, Arkansas, population 92. There is no doubt the there were at least 2 pies, being that they always travel in pairs, sitting on the buffet in her large farmhouse kitchen. My best guess would be one tangy lemon meringue and one creamy rich dark chocolate. Of course the homemade crusts made with part Crisco and part lard by these long experienced hands, were flaky beyond belief.

As I grew up, I actively watched as she prepared these delicious offerings of love and care. I would question continuously, "How much Crisco do you use?: Always the answer would be the same, "Until it looks and feels right. Here, feel this." The same was true of the various tasty fillings that she prepared. Lemon, chocolate, butterscotch, Karo-nut(also known as pecan), apple, fresh cherry, peach. Always "just til it looks right".
This brings to my mind another delicacy that to this day is my utter weakness. Grandma's fried pies. There are no better pastries in any patisserie in Paris. Crusts of unbelievable tenderness yet stable enough to hold the sweet and spicy fillings made of dried apples, peaches, and my favorite, apricot, fried, again with Crisco, in that magical black iron skillet. There would always be a few odd ones at the end and because we couldn't waste any dough, these would be filled with whatever was handy. Cinnamon, sugar, &butter...Cocoa, sugar & butter, or just a pinch of sugar & butter. These fabulous pies, piled on a dinner plate and sit on that yellow kitchen table would not last out the day
.
As I watched and tried & failed and watched & tried & failed and continued to try my hand at this art, I have become more and more successful.
I brought my babies into my kitchen and talked to them about whatever I was cooking long before they understood more that breast milk. As I prepared tender, flaky pie dough of Crisco and lard, I would sing them the classic nursery rhyme:

Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,
When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing,
Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the King!

Over many years, I have found that pies are much more than flour and fat and water brimming with unlimited fillings. They are a part of my growing up-a comfort in grief-an accompaniment of joy-a celebration of achievement-the heart of love.

And isn't it just like Jesus Christ to take the scraps of our lives and in His loving, experienced nail scarred hands, fill them to running over with delicious fillings? In Jeremiah 29:11 God Almighty says, "For I know the plans(fillings) I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Wow!!!!!

You can teach a dog new tricks,....

This is my first blog. Quite an amazing thing! I am just a fellow traveller on this road of life. Great is Thy Faithfulness!!!! I look forward to sharing what the Lord is saying and how He is directing our lives.