Teach Me

“Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.” – Psalm 86:11 (NLT)

Perhaps, the better amount of rainfall this past year has helped some of our fruit trees to flourish. I noticed the plum tree has given more fruits this time. I love the crispy flesh and some being sweet while the others are a little tart if, unfortunately, are plucked early from the tiny, jutted out branches. Despite the numerous flowers that fell few months ago, snatched by gusty, late afternoon winds, my family and I are happy and are grateful to be able to enjoy them this time. And share with friends.

I still wish sometimes that my late mother has taught me how to cook. She often would tell me to go upstairs and to start doing my homework. I knew better then that she wasn’t teaching me “laziness” nor “spoiling her only girl”. She was a good cook who had a hard task of creating savory recipes, while balancing the budget among six of her children. Some left overs were re-purposed but as expected, no little mouths ever complained. Plates were empty. The only argument was who would wash the plates...

ready to bake

Back to the present time…I don’t think I can eat all of the plums. I want to make something. But don’t know where to start. 

Thanks for the internet nowadays. Type a word and within an instant, there are few sites to explore. Recipes to be experimented.

 I noticed the “Plum Crisp” that came out first. My heart chose! 

“That’s it!” So, while it was a sweltering heat going on outside the house, I tried to make the concoction, tweaking the recipe a bit, because I liked vanilla and cinnamon with baked products. 

No hard decision when it came with the sugar. I drastically cut the amount knowing that the plums were sweet already and that…even before I envisioned the baked plum crisp, I drooled with the thought of putting vanilla ice cream on top!

After a few minutes, the sweet aroma that filled the kitchen reached my son's sense of smell upstairs, as he was checking his submitted project online. He ran downstairs and joined me to dig and scoop some "plum crisp" even though the plums on the bottom were still bubbling. "Who's got the time to wait???" 

plum crisp anyone?

The cold vanilla bean ice cream on top was a great contrast to the hot fruit. Delicious! It was a perfect ending after our salad for lunch. 

And I thought about my mother again...That there was a good reason for her not to teach me how to cook. She wanted me to finish my education so I could pursue what God truly had gifted me with. She didn't want me to take the path she was in. She wanted me to discover my own. She didn't teach me how to cook. But she taught me the most important gift from her heart. To discover and finish what God had instilled in me. She sacrificed so I could have a better education. The greatest gift she could share with me. Cooking could be learned. But nothing could ever beat wisdom...

I will continue to search thousands of recipes day after day. But I know my heart was given "faith" first. Then, wisdom. From God... His ways and truth shared and handed down to me. By my loving mother. 

"Drink water! Go and finish your project!" I hollered to my son. I am...Sounding like my mother...

I am...desiring to be like Jesus... I am..."I Am..."

Teach me Your ways, Oh Lord...