Saturday, December 6, 2008

Dear God,

As I walked out of Wal Mart at 6:00 a.m. the snow was gently falling. With just a few cars in the parking lot, I thought how beautiful it was. I thought of friends who loved the snow like me, Janice, Susan and my mother. In the cold air I breathed a prayer of gratitude for snow, for friends, cold weather, memories of my mother, sacred ground and inner joy. I've always said it doesn't take a lot to fill me with joy.

When I arrived home, I started preparing for my Open House. Baking bread seems to be an indispensable essential. The staples coming together, flour, baking powder and baking soda, salt, sugar, butter and milk remind me of days long ago when women baked all their bread at home. A rudimentary necessity for family life and well being, a warm loaf of bread somehow conveyed love to those around them. I can imagine butter melting and dripping and family members enjoying the labors of wife and mother.

As I stirred my flour mix with fruit and nuts, I felt so at home with a Yankee candle burning, snow falling and the fruity aroma rising in my kitchen. Like women before me, I too felt as if I were standing in love for all those who will gather on Sunday. And that took me to you who prepares bread for my soul daily.

The bare essentials of faith, trust, hope and love are given to me daily. You see to it that I have the basics as I wake up each morning. I don't rise lacking. If I choose to, I can carry these all day long. Like bread rising, they will increase in size and my choices are to carry more or share them with others. Giving away my increase is like baking bread for those around me.

Baking bread,
the joys
of taking
the essentials
from the shelves
and preparing bread
for my friends
and family
brings joy
to my soul.
In every loaf
you are
to be found,
the most
essential gift
of all.

My love always, Andrea