I am crazy about this coin purse. At first it doled out inspiration to be brave and "get out of the cage" and start writing. This week, however, it is a visual of a bird who is set free, who is not locked in a cage anymore.
I live with someone who struggles with forgiveness, her name rhymes with Bolivia. :)
Not meaning to pick on her, I know forgiving someone IS hard. I have lived both "in the cage" of unforgiveness and now, "out of the cage", as one who, with God's help and strength, can forgive. I desperately wish for my sweet girl a freedom, joy and peace that surpasses all understanding that only true forgiveness brings. I don't want her locked in the cage any more.
"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you." Louis B. Smedes
The truth is we live in a broken, messy and unfair world. We WILL get hurt and we WILL be treated unfairly.
I have learned our level of forgiveness will determine our level of joy and peace. Forgiving little equals little joy and peace. Forgiving much equals much joy and peace. The quicker I forgive, the quicker I am filled with joy and peace. I have also learned it is a command from our Creator, Colossians 3:13.
And... didn't He forgive us?
Praying that my sweet girl obsesses not about how hurt she is, but rather about how amazing God is who gives us strength to forgive.
Thanks for reading,
L.
Where is the virtual "scratch & sniff" when you need it?
For the last week I have been dreaming about making pancakes with chopped pears in them, something I had never attempted before. Late bloomer.
Still feeling the sting from a hurtful email yesterday, this foodie needed some serious comfort food. It is obvious now, my pear pancake fantasies were anointed and had great purpose. Can't believe I ate as many as I did.
After consumption, I can assure you, these pancakes exceedingly comforted and delivered in every dietary and soulful way possible. What is it about comfort food?
Maybe it was the healing and intoxicating aroma of cinnamon?
Maybe it was doing something with my hands?
Maybe it was taking the focus off of myself? (Hard, but good.)
Maybe it was sharing them with someone else?
I submit, all of the above. Any who, these pancakes rocked and turned a hurting heart into a thankful one and had me asking God to bring beauty out of a hurting heart by the last swallow. Here's the hook-up:
Comfort Vegan Pear Pancakes
2 Cups of your fave flour. (I LOVE one cup of buckwheat + one cup of spelt.)
1/4 Cup coco palm sugar. (Bulk at New Seasons, it is NOT refined, cheering!)
1 Tablespoon ground flax seed (This and the applesauce below replace eggs.)
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 to 1 Teaspoon of cinnamon (I ADORE Vietnamese cinnamon, super nums!)
Whisk together in a large bowl.
1 Cup of water
1 Cup of unsweetened nondairy milk (you pick: soy, hemp, rice, or almond)
2 Tablespoons of canola oil
2 Tablespoons of apple sauce, unsweetened
1 Teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
Whisk together in a medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients.
1 Pear
Chop pear into small dice and fold into batter with a spatula.
You know the drill from here, add a little canola oil in the frying pan over medium heat, pour 1/4 cup of batter at a time, flip after miraculous bubbles appear. Top with soy butter and REAL maple syrup and enjoy! Makes about 12 to 14 pancakes, about 1 or 2 or 4 servings, entirely dependent on how much comfort you need.
Thanks for reading,
L.
"You know what to do in an avalanche, right?"
asked my friend Andrea, who adventurously completes me. We snowshoed up a mountain yesterday which had some bona fide, perpendicular-like inclines, hence the question.
Before I could respond--because I am thinking the avalanche could happen before I respond--Andrea convincingly followed up with "Swim."
Swim?
I seriously could not stop thinking about it. In fact, I am still thinking about it. Not the avalanche part, but the swim part.
I am convinced "swim" could be the answer to just about every quandary (almost). Because if you are not swimming, you are drowning or treading at best. At least with swimming, you are bound to go somewhere and you are bound to need a Lifeguard. I like that.
Am I on to something? Maybe.
Let's take it further.
A wise swimmer has the Lifeguard nearby, one who is unceasingly there to save you. Should you get in over your head, or if you become tired, worn out, and burned out, the Lifeguard will protect you from drowning. Or, if you are the rebellious type and don't "follow the rules", He will help you any way. Over and over and over again.
A wise swimmer also never swims alone. Everyone needs a swim buddy. Through your swimming, they are there for encouragement, for listening, for hugging, for laughing, and for interrupting loneliness.
We were not created to swim alone.
Now I know I am on to something. (Thanks Andrea!)
Grateful for my Lifeguard and swimming buddies,
L.
