There are eight devotions in
the 2025 devotion series ‘Recipes of Home.’ Recipes were submitted by
congregation members along with a comment about the recipe. Devotions posted on
Mondays and Fridays through Advent + Christmas Eve (8 total).
LOVE
Every day is a journey, and
the journey itself is home. – Matsuo Basho
It was a pleasure to grow up
with my grandparents living next door. I had two homes both filled with love.
Every school day my brother
and I would walk a few blocks to get to the bus stop. My grandparents were
always waiting in the picture window of their home to wave to us as we ran by. I
looked forward to seeing them and their waving; my day started with extra love.
On the way home from school,
we always stopped in to see grandma and grandpa. Grandpa would ask us what we
learned and grandma gave us homemade cookies.
For me, home smells like walking
into grandma’s house when she was pulling rolled gingerbread cookies out of the
oven. The fragrance was all embracing, full and warm. I know that when grandma
made this recipe she spent hours stirring, rolling, and cutting the gingerbread.
She spent afternoons pouring love into the batter. If you caught her in the
baking process you realized that for her it was a form of prayer. She talked to
herself – God- while she worked. Among others she prayed for me.
Grandma’s cookies were
amazing. I believe it was because they were filled with love.
Grandma’s Gingerbread
1 cup molasses
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup shortening
1 generous tsp. baking soda
3 heaping tsp. ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt (scant)
5 cups flour
½ cup boiling water (add last)
Mix and refrigerate over night. Flour rolling pin and cutting board. Roll out and cutter.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 mins.
PRAYER- Stir up your power,
Lord Christ, and come. Come into our hearts. With your love may we create homes
filled with warmth, sweet fragrance, prayer and acts of love. Amen.
