A while back I stood at the counter, cooking with my daughter Madison. It was my parents’ 60th anniversary, and we had much cooking to do. While over-stirring a bowl, Maddy accidentally spilled a little sauce on the pages of my cookbook.
“Uh-oh,” she said. “It spilt over top.”
“Not to worry.” I smiled.
Grabbing a damp cloth from the counter, I dabbed the corner of the book doing my best to keep the pages looking new.
Regardless of our efforts to keep the pages clean, stains have found a way of marking them up and time has found a way of wearing them out. The book was a gift from one husband to his young bride created by the work of his hands some twenty-two years ago. I’ve cherished that gift all this time, hoping that one day I’d pass it down to one of my children who would cherish it as much as I have.
What was once a hardcover book with blank pages is now filled with scribbles and scratches of days gone by. Every page holds a recipe, and every recipe a memory of people I’ve laughed with, cooked with, and broken bread with over the years.
Wiping away the sauce, I thought about the fact that this stain, like the others, would remain there a lifetime. The book will never be new again, the worn pages will never be white, but every stain and every scribble reminds us of moments spent cooking with family and friends.
Failing to remove it all, I looked over at Maddy to say, “One day this book will be yours, Hon. And when you look at these pages, you’ll be reminded of these times we shared in the kitchen together—just you and I.”
Those stains are precious to us, much like the passages I underline in God’s Word. Every scratch and every scribble reminds me of days that I’ve spent with the Lord. Sifting through the pages I glean wisdom, measuring my life against the truth of His word, and pouring out my heart I come to Him seeking grace for the broken soul that I am. Wiping away the tears, I’m reminded that this stain on my soul is made new by the shedding of blood by His son. The book will never be new again, the worn pages will never be white, but every scratch and every scribble reminds me of moments I’ve supped with the Lord—just He and I.
I’ll close by sharing our favorite Mother/Daughter Recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Coating for Beef:
½ c flour
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Cut 1½ pounds of round steak into bite size pieces, and then roll them in coating mix until each piece is well covered.
Brown the beef with ¼ cup of margarine in a large skillet.
Add the following ingredients:
Approximately 2 cups of fresh mushrooms
or one can of drained mushrooms
½ cup of chopped onion
1 small clove garlic
Add the above ingredients to the beef, and brown lightly.
Stir in 1 can of beef consomme.
Cook covered on medium heat for 1 hour, stirring often. After a while, add water if needed to keep the mixture from burning.
Stir in 1 cup of sour cream.
Serve over 3 cups of cooked broad egg noodles.
Garnish lightly with parsley flakes.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene, Time-Warp Wife
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