“Use it or lose it.”  How often have we heard that axiom?  I have no idea.  But it’s a lot, a lot of times.  Here’s the thing:  I know it to be true.  How?  Because I’ve lost the things I haven’t used.  Sometimes it’s just as simple as something I misplaced.  I was done using my keys, just as an example, and set them down somewhere.  Do you think I could put my hands on them the next time I needed them?  Oh, no!  It’s as if they had the power of locomotion and had crawled off somewhere to hide from me and taunt me. 

 But I had another example today in a different context.  I wanted to get two pieces of clothing mended, and I figured it would only take me fifteen minutes.  Neither of the needed repairs was big or complicated so it shouldn’t take long, or so I figured.  I was, of course, wrong.  I had had a lesson on my spiffy new sewing machine so I figured I knew what I was doing and could sit down and knock out this to-do item in no time at all.  One was a T-shirt that Charlie loves and didn’t want to give up.  My project was a soft, black scarf that had caught on a sharp place and torn a small hole.

 I hadn’t used my machine for several months.  I kept saying, “I need to sit down at the sewing machine and work on that project so I don’t forget how to do what I learned from the instructor.”  But I kept not doing that.  So when I sat down to do my quick little mending project, my fifteen-minutes tops sewing project, I couldn’t even remember how to wind a bobbin.  I had to look at the instruction manual and have Charlie look at it, too.  I did finally get it done, but it was way longer than fifteen minutes, more like 35-45 minutes.  All because I hadn’t kept on sewing and learning the ins and outs of how to use this sewing behemoth.

 I have lots of other stories about not keeping up with the learning, knowledge, effort, or time I’ve invested and so not keeping the skill.  German, anyone?  Spanish?  Crocheting or knitting?  My Bible memory verses?  Balance?  Like physical balance, staying upright-kind-of balance.  I could go on and on.  I’ve lost all kinds of  skills and abilities through disuse.

 What I’m wondering right now is if I might lose some of my spiritual skills or abilities if I don’t use them.  I guess it’s possible.  I will lose some of my spiritual skills or abilities if I don’t make it a point to use them.  It really is use it or lose it across all kinds of fields and possibilities.  So it behooves me to cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:22-23:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control so that the fruit goes bigger, stronger, and more delicious day by day. 

Questions for you:  What are your spiritual gifts?  How are you using them?

I try not to brag, but my first apple pie turned out to be a masterpiece—flaky crust, tart but sweet apples, perfect baking time.  I was nine years old when I baked that pie.  My mom pretty much turned the kitchen over to me.  I pored over the recipe and followed it oh-so-carefully.  Everyone loved it, and that launched my love of baking.  I love it that I can pull out a recipe, gather the ingredients, follow the steps, and usually have a more-than-edible dish at the end of the process.  I open the oven door, peer inside, and marvel that I made that!

About ten years ago, just before Thanksgiving, my husband had a bad fall with lots of broken body parts ensuing.  He was in the hospital over the holiday and for a bit afterward.  My daughter and I realized that we’d have to refigure our holiday dinner plans.  I knew that I wouldn’t be able to finagle a full turkey dinner with all the attendant fixings up to his hospital room.  So we asked him what one traditional Thanksgiving dish he would like.  He answered immediately, “Apple pie.”  Done and done.  That I could provide in a hospital room.

That Thanksgiving morning I got up and peeled half a dozen Granny Smith apples.  I chopped them into bite-sized pieces and coated them with sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  I prepared the pie dough from scratch, cutting butter into the flour and salt mixture and adding water to get just the right consistency for the pie dough.  I put the pie dough into the pie plate and poured the spiced apples into the crust.  I placed the top crust on, sealed the edges, and cut in the vent holes.  I slid the pie into the oven and prepared a basket with plates and forks, and I put a container of vanilla ice cream into a little cooler.  When the pie was done, I loaded everything up and headed down to the hospital.

Kate, her then-boyfriend, and I met up in Charlie’s hospital room, and we had our Thanksgiving feast of apple pie.  It was the best pie I’ve ever baked.  Charlie still says so.  I came home that day with about half a pie and prepared cheese quesadillas for my Thanksgiving dinner.  I felt satisfied all the way around.

That’s what baking does for me.  It satisfies something in me.  I love rolling out pie dough.  I enjoy kneading bread dough.  I savor baking a family recipe for chocolate cake, Aunt Gen’s Chocolate Cake, and coating it with rich buttercream frosting.  I look forward to turning out a delicious batch of cookies—chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodles, oatmeal, and our favorite, Chocolate Nut Revels, another family recipe.

I’ve used baking to connect with our grandson.  So far we’ve worked together to bake a peach pie—heavenly!  We turned out a double recipe of chocolate chip cookies—outstanding!  We go slowly and talk about what we’re doing and fantasize about the finished product.  It’s been a great way for us to get to know one another.  (Note:  The picture above shows you what chocolate chip cookies look like when a nine-year-old puts them on the baking sheet–they’re the cookies of my dreams!)

Baking has ever-so-many benefits, including a yummy product to eat at the end!

Questions for you:  How do you feel about baking?  What gives you this kind of satisfaction—maybe it’s eating apple pie?!