The Cookie Story
Philippians 4:1-13
She said she wanted to make the cookies all by herself.
She and her parents had traveled all the way across the country back to her father’s home for Christmas and she informed her Grandmother, shortly after their arrival, that she was now old enough, at the ripe old age of eight, to make the Christmas Gingerbread cookies all by herself.
“I learned how to make cookies in Scouts and I can’t wait to show you Grandmother. Our leader was really good, and she was really funny and showed us how to make cookies step-by-step. She told us that we could make good cookies too - so I know I can do it and they will be the best Christmas Gingerbread cookies ever! What until you taste them!”
The little girl had said it with so much confidence and anticipation of the end result that her grandmother couldn’t find any reason to disagree. They set up a time to bake, agreeing that the granddaughter could do the job herself, as long as the grandmother could hang around to keep her company. The young girl also made a point of saying that her leader taught them to allow enough time for the batter to chill and to rest, or else it might not be the right consistency to shape and to bake.
At the appointed hour they gathered in the kitchen and pulled down the old Betty Crocker cookbook which was now faded, well worn and held together with a binding that was broken and flopsy. Its pages were well worn and loved; page #321 Apple Pie was completely covered with sticky sugar and butter stains; page #371 Potato Salad was stuck together with page #370 Coleslaw; and page #218 Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese had what appeared to be an onion piece pressed into the page. The pages held the stories of many years of family celebrations, rites of passage and casseroles that had been delivered to those in need.
The little granddaughter found the cookie section and turned to page #155, where she found the recipe for Gingerbread Boys. She began to rummage around the cupboards and pulled out all the ingredients - being careful to line up all the items in a row - so that everything would be at right at her fingertips.
Shortening
Sugar
Dark Molasses
Cold Water
Flour
Salt
Baking Soda
Ginger
Allspice
Nutmeg
And cinnamon, which was penciled in next to the recipe.
“Grandma, why is cinnamon written in next to your recipe?” she asked.
“Well I like my gingerbread cookies to taste and smell like cinnamon – so I added in the cinnamon and balance it with the nutmeg. I think it smells like Christmas.”
“So you can change recipes if you want to?” she asked.
“Well just a little bit here and there. You have to be careful what you change or you might really mix up the recipe. You have to pay attention to your taste buds. Do you want to add the cinnamon?”
The granddaughter thought about it, closed her eyes and said “I know how they will look - but I’m not sure how they will taste. I think the cinnamon will make it taste even better so I’ll try it.”
The granddaughter began by creaming the shortening and sugar. “Our leader said this was very important with cookies – and that you have to blend until the mixture is light and fluffy. Do you think this is light and fluffy yet? Grandma, I might need a little help with the creaming.”
“I would love to help with the creaming – even though it looks like you are doing a great job. Let me help a little bit while you measure out the other ingredients,” said the grandmother as she took over the wooden spoon and continued with the creaming.
When the creaming was finished, the little girl carefully poured in the molasses and then the water. Then she carefully measured out 2 ½ cups of flour, leveling each portion out precisely with the edge of her knife. Then she measured the salt, the baking soda, she added a little bit of nutmeg and then she paused long enough to smell the ginger and the cinnamon before mixing them in as well. “Mmmmm. It is starting to smell like Christmas.” And after making sure that everything was well mixed - she covered it up and sat it in the refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours.
“Do you want to take a walk while we wait?” asked the grandmother. “We could walk through the woods and get a little fresh air, especially since it’s been so warm this December.”
The little girl agreed and after getting bundled up, they set off, making their way down the path and into the woods where the sun was shining through the barren trees and the air was crisp and fresh. After walking for a bit - they sat down on a large rock that felt cold on their bottoms and reminded them that it was still winter and spring was very far away.
“It seems to be a funny winter,” said the grandmother.
“But it doesn’t look like winter,” said her granddaughter. “Do you think it will ever snow?
“I don’t know if it’s going to snow for Christmas. We’ll have to just wait and see.”
“I think that there is too much waiting around at Christmas time Grandma! It’s so hard to wait! I’ve been counting the days forever and I can’t wait for it to come. Can we make it go faster?”
The grandmother thought for a minute and said, “Well we can’t really make it go faster and believe it or not waiting can be a good thing. Remember waiting is what Advent is all about. We read stories from the Bible about people who were waiting for a King to come and help them. They believed what God promised them so they were waiting with hope and confidence. We read about Mary and Joseph who were waiting for the birth of Jesus, because the angels told them he would be special and would be the prince of peace. They believed what God promised them as well. Mary and Joseph learned a lot while they were waiting and we can always learn a lot while we wait for Christmas to come too. Does that make sense?”
“Well, not really Grandma,” she replied.
“Hmmm…..well it’s like your cookies. You expect the cookies to taste yummy because you remember how good the cookies were that you made at Scouts. And your leader taught you how to make the cookies and she gave you confidence. She told you that you could make delicious cookies and you believe her! And so now you are waiting with hope and with confidence to taste your cookies. We believe in God’s promise of love as we remember and we wait during Advent. Does that make sense?
“Well….well….not exactly. But it sounds very important Grandma. But what I really think is that we should go back to your house - because I think it’s time to bake those cookies. ”
“You’re right honey. By the time we get back the batter will be cool and rested and ready to bake.” When they returned the granddaughter turned on the oven and set it to 375 degrees. And together, grandmother and granddaughter, got out the heavy old rolling pin and the flour, which ended up everywhere, and they rolled out the dough making sure that it was about ¼ inch thick in most places. They cut out dozens of cookies in all sizes and all shapes; gingerbread boys and gingerbread girls, stars and hearts, circles and candy canes. They decorated them with raisins, candied cherries and hot red licorice strips. Finally the little girl announced that they were ready to go in the oven. They checked the temperature and placed them carefully in the center of the oven and set the timer for ten minutes.
“See we have to wait again,” said the little girl.
“The waiting is going to be worth it though. You have remembered all that your leader taught you,” answered the grandmother.
This time the youngster could hardly contain herself, sitting down for awhile, then standing up and coming back and forth into the kitchen looking at the timer. The smell of ginger and cinnamon mixed with the warm dough began to float around the house. The little girl stood next to the oven, bending and twisting trying to look inside the foggy window of the old oven to check on the progress. Finally the timer went off and they removed the cookies from the oven.
“They look good. We didn’t burn them!” she exclaimed.
“They look wonderful. But you know what we have to do next – don’t you?” asked the grandmother.
“Hurry up and wait! It seems as if the whole world is waiting! We have to wait for them to cool but not too much I hope because I think I might like them when they are warm – and not cool.” And so she just stood there, up on her toes, watching the cookies cool.
And finally it was time.
The little girl got out the spatula and carefully moved two cookies from the cooling rack over on to two plates, one for each of them. And they sat down together at the table and the little girl picked up the cookie and was just about to put it in her mouth - but unexpectedly she put it down and said; “Grandma – you go first.”
With her little granddaughter watching every move, the grandmother lifted the cookie to her mouth pausing to say, “It smells wonderful.” She took the first bite, savored it for just a moment before she swallowed it. And her eyes and her smile let her granddaughter know without a doubt that it was indeed a perfect cookie.
“It is a perfect cookie, honey. It has just the right texture. It’s soft and moist and you know what – it tastes like Christmas! You were right – they are the best cookies ever!”
And the little girl smiled, a knowing smile, “Oh I knew you would say that Grandma. I knew that you would tell me they were perfect.”
And the grandmother thought to herself, “Yes, honey, I knew all along that no matter what, your cookies would be the best Christmas cookies ever.”
Amen.
©2006 Rev. Deborah J. Blanchard. A sermon based on Philippians 4:1-13. Deborah Blanchard is the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Littleton, MA, a graduate of Andover-Newton Theological School and a Fellow of the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
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