Last year, I didn’t bake cookies for Christmas. I came down with COVID just before mid-December.
Since neither my husband (He had it too.) nor I could taste our food, and other family members were concerned about contagions, I didn’t have much reason to make treats.
Paul and I found it odd that we could imagine flavors based on the texture of the foods we put in our mouths.
The buttery saltiness of creamy mashed potatoes was a mental conception, an abstraction of memory. As the New Year dawned, our sense of taste began to return.
Twelve months later, I’ve returned to cookie baking mode.
Baking cookies and I go way back.
When I was ten, my mother let me lose on my own in the kitchen. In the cooler weather of fall, I’d bake on Saturday afternoons. She watched football. I have the sense she considered cookie production a chore and was glad to have me step into the role.
When I became a mother, my own little ones took their responsibility to taste-test seriously. As they grew, they developed favorites, and traditions took shape.
What hadn’t improved much over the years was the kitchen.
After my children had grown, one of my daughters realized a local home improvement company was sponsoring an “ugly kitchen” contest. She photographed the room where she had taste tested cookies hoping we could win some free renovations. (Some other poor soul won, apparently having endured a kitchen worse than mine.)
Even so, I remember the wonderful feeling I got entering the “ugly”, poorly equipped heart-of-home to bake cookies one holiday season. I thought, “It feels good to be here.” Good memories overcame limited resources.
In years since, my husband has made significant improvements. Counter space is now sufficient. The children gifted us with a larger mixer to replace my hand-held device. The room is still a pleasant place in which to bake, now convenient and not in danger of qualifying for an “ugly” contest.
After last year without baking, I was eager to get back to it. First out of the oven were cookies to go to the troops through our local Armed Forces Mothers chapter, an event COVID cancelled last year. The Monday after Thanksgiving, packed boxes winged their way to those serving our country. Last week, my great-niece notified me that her box had arrived much to her delight.
Next, I moved to the eight cookie trays for Christmas Day. One for each family household, one for the Christmas gathering, and one for our own table.
Certain recipes are the norm, but this year I added chocolate chip oatmeal at the request of a granddaughter. Something different mixed in with our traditions.
Traditions call us to memory and wonder. The flavors and aromas of Christmas remind us of our early realization of what Christ’s birth means. I go back to the Christmas Eve service of a particular year, to the manger scene under the trees of my childhood, back to the home where I first bowed my head in prayer, when I first began to seek Him.
We wonder at this holiday, part of history now for more than 2,000 years, transformed, to be sure, from its early days to a commercialized version of gadgets and trinkets.
But only if we let it become so.
Every Christmas reminds us that our Savior came as a baby to grow into a Man who would save us from our sins. Christmas calls us to remember all Christ has done for us.
Memory. Hope. Tradition. Christmas.
Emmanuel, God with us.
Merry Christmas!
I love traditions. Family traditions are the best. As I started reading your message and looking at the photo of the cookies, I felt like I was right there in the kitchen with you. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
You’re welcome any time, Melissa. Thanks. God bless!. Merry Christmas!
This one sentence is key: “But only if we let it become so.”
It’s true in both negative and positive applications. We have a choice as to how we approach this season!
Amen, Ava. May our approach be in humility and a desire to shine light and show grace. Thanks and God bless!
What a sweet post. Literally and figuratively my friend. I love how the kitchen is truly the heartbeat and soul of our home too. Although “empty nesters”, my wife and I communicate there more than in any room of the house. 🙂 What wonderful traditions you have to carry on in your family ma’am. My mama’s was her pies. 🙂 Although, she was a pretty good cookie-maker too as I recall. Those Chocolate chip-Oatmeal cookies have me looking for a cool glass of milk. Let me know if you’re stuck with leftovers. Merry CHRISTmas sweet lady.
Thank you, JD. I never had the patience to do pies. My husband does the crust, and I do the fillings most of the time. I have the feeling the chocolate chip oatmeal will be a staple going forward. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home. God bless and merry Christmas!
This brings back fond memories of baking with my kids every Christmas. We’re scattered abroad now to four different locations around the country and have no home base since we relocated to the South. Your article makes me homesick.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday, Melinda. I hope you can find a way to get together soon. Thanks. God bless! Merry Christmas!
God bless and comfort you, Melinda. Thanks for commenting. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!
I love this post and tradition! Your yummy-looking photo makes me want to get to baking!
Happy baking, Candyce. Merry Christmas. Thanks, and God bless!
Great post Nancy! Traditions are so special, and I’m glad you get to taste things this year!! Merry Christmas!!
Thank you, Signora Sheila! I’m happy about that too. God bless and merry Christmas!
I love traditions with dual purpose–reminding Who we celebrate AND blessing others. Merry Christmas!
Those traditions are wonderful. They help us to shine God’s light into the darkness. Thanks, Annie, and God bless! Merry Christmas!
First off, I had to laugh. I pulled up your post with the yummy cookie picture and the site asked me if I wanted to accept the cookies. Yes please! Lol
Thanks for this encouraging message as we prepare our hearts for the birthday of our Savior. God bless and Merry Christmas
We all accept the cookies this time of year! Thank you, Yvonne. God bless and merry Christmas!
I loved baking cookies every Christmas with my grandmother. And your picture of chocolate chip cookies makes me want one! Merry Christmas, Nancy!
Merry Christmas, Deb. God bless!
Thanks for the reminder that in all of our traditions, what matters most is celebrating Christ.
That’s exactly right, Joanna. Thanks. God bless! And merry Christmas!
Nancy, glad you’re baking cookies again and enjoyed walking down memory lane with the years you have been making these delightful treats. I’m most thankful to remember what Christ accomplished on my behalf. Merry Christmas!
Me too, Karen. Merry Christmas. God bless! Thank you!
Baking is such a kind act of loving service … and so yummy, too! I bet that kitchen has witnessed much love and laughter over the years. Merry Christmas, Nancy!
Merry Christmas, Jessica. Thanks and God bless!