Share Four Somethings: February 2022

No doubt, the world is a heavy place these days.

What’s weighing you down might be different from what’s weighing me down. It might be the exact opposite thing, in fact. That seems to be how it is right now, in all sorts of categories.

I don’t know what to do about any of this. All I know for sure is that Jesus has the answer—in the form of an invitation—for both of us.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,” He says, “and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

There it is, an invitation from the Way, the Truth and the Life—the only reliable source of hope in this messed-up world. We can come to Him, cast our cares upon Him, and find actual rest for our souls—in the form of peace, solitude, perhaps even a strengthened heart.

I hadn’t planned to start this month’s Share Four Somethings post like this, but when I was pounding it out on the pavement this morning—my first time running outside in a couple of weeks—these are the thoughts that came to me. Along with some lighter fare, starting with my new favorite kitchen gadget.

• Something Loved

If it’s possible to love a kitchen tool, then I love this citrus juicer. I got it for Christmas, and it’s made the formerly tedious task of squeezing limes and lemons a lot more fun.

All you have to do is cut the fruit in half, stick it in the juicer, squeeze the handles together and voila—out comes the juice. The seeds and pulp stay tucked up in the peel, making the gadget is much easier to clean than my old manual juicer.

I have no financial interest in promoting this product. But if you want more information, you can find it here.

• Something Gleaned

Patti Callahan’s novel Once Upon a Wardrobe is one of my favorite reads from the past month, maybe even the past year. Set in 1950, right around the time the first book in the Chronicles of Narnia was published, it’s the story of a loving big sister who helps her ailing younger brother answer his all-consuming question, “Where did Narnia come from?”

Megs Devonshire, a physics student at Oxford, tracks down C.S. Lewis at his home near the campus and begs him to give her the answer to George’s inquiry. Over the course of several conversations, the author tells Megs stories from his life and encourages her to come to her own conclusions about Narnia. These discoveries, which she relates to George during frequent trips home, encourage his spirits even while his heart is failing.

Spoiler alert—there’s a funeral near the end of the book. Meg gives the eulogy, and her thoughts about grief get me every time I read them.

I sat on the front row with Mum and Dad, and I wasn’t crying because I’d cried as much as one body knows how to weep. I’d believed—fool that I was—that because I knew this end was coming, I was prepared, that I would not grieve as I had. As if one can pre-grieve and get it out of the way. That’s not true. Grief is the price I paid for loving fiercely, and that was okay, because there was no other choice but to love fiercely and fully.

• Something Braved

Aside from the aforementioned weights in the world, I’m not really braving anything major in my life right now. I’m grateful for this today, because I know it could all change tomorrow.

That said, I’ve had a few songs on repeat that might offer some comfort and hope to those of you who are facing bigger battles. If music is your thing, please listen and be encouraged.

• “Abide” by Dwell Songs

• “Promised Land” by Toby Mac (with Sheryl Crow)

• “Hymn of Heaven” by Phil Wickham

• Something Achieved

I made a braided bread loaf for the first time this month, and it turned out better than expected. (You can see for yourself in the photo at the top of this post). For this month’s Something Achieved, though, I want to focus on an accomplishment that was a little messier and a whole lot sweeter.

I’ve made hundreds, if not thousands, of chocolate-chip cookies in my lifetime. For some reason, though, my last several attempts—as well as the attempts of others in my house—have resulted in cookies that have been flatter than pancakes.

When I signed up to send cookies to school for one of Molly’s robotics team dinners, I asked her what kind she wanted me to make. Of course, she chose chocolate chip. Specifically, Joanna Gaines’ recipe from her first Magnolia Table cookbook.

This version has come out flat in my kitchen, but I decided to give it another try. Aside from using dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet, I followed the recipe exactly this time. When I added the flour to the creamed mixture, it blew up in my face when I turned on the stand mixer.

I cleaned up and pushed through, though, and the end result was fabulous.

You can ask anyone at my house and they’ll tell you the same thing. Hands down, they were the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made.

Maybe it was due to not overmixing. Maybe making the cookies in the winter, when the humidity is lower and the kitchen is colder, is the key. Or perhaps it was using sea salt, like the recipe called for, rather than regular old table salt.

Whatever it was, I made them again not long after that to see if they’d turn out the same without the flour explosion. Happily, they did.

• • •

Now it’s your turn. Do you have any new favorite kitchen gadgets or good book quotes you want to tell us about? Recent baking achievements or thoughts on world affairs? Feel free to share any or all of this in the comments, or, if you’d prefer, your own list of something loved, gleaned, braved and achieved from the last month.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth