Inner Beauty Series – The Brownie Fiasco
Our son Kyle graduated from High School on May 13, and it’s been a wild and crazy ride the past few weeks: preparing for finals, graduation, company, the party … you know the drill! A few days before his last week of school, Kyle asked if I would make my “famous brownies” and bring them to school during lunch to share with his friends. What mother could refuse such a request from her soon-to-be college-bound son! But true to form, I was juggling a million things the morning of brownie baking and the simple task turned into a hysterical fiasco!
I had a writing deadline that day so I spent time early that morning looking over my assignment. I wanted the brownies to be warm so I also decided to bake them in the morning instead of the night before, but after I had all the other ingredients (okay two boxed brownie mixes!) in the bowl I realized the only oil I had was Virgin Olive Oil. My husband is the “chef” in our home so I didn’t think it would make a difference and I dumped it in the mix. But being the conscientious baker, I tasted the batter and it was horrible! Worried that it would cause the baked brownies to taste terrible – still in my morning sweats, no bra, no makeup, and no shower – I jumped in my car and headed for the nearest mini mart for two more boxes of brownie mix and Crisco Oil to start over. Unbelievably, the mini mart only had ONE box of brownie mix. Yikes! Time is running out! I held up the box of brownie mix and asked the cashier if he had one more. Speaking little to no English he repeatedly told his assistant to go look – but not understanding him – the assistant was unsure of what he was looking for! I showed him the box, followed him to the shelf, but of course there wasn’t another box. I finally paid and arriving home thought I could mix up another box with the right oil and just mix PART of the other batter and hopefully that would be okay. While mixing the new batter, my cell phone rang and it was my dear friend Kari Gibson! As we chatted, I decided I should probably eat something because my blood sugar was beginning to drop. As I mixed batter, talked with Kari, cradling my phone against my ear … I lost grip and my cell phone landed in my bowl of cheerios! I quickly grabbed it hoping not to miss a beat but suddenly Kari was yelling in my ear, “Kit, you sound gargley, I can’t understand you!” When I explained what had just transpired, she told me to take my phone apart and dry it with my hairdryer! I quickly dumped the brownie mixture into the pan, added the “famous ingredients” – reeses peanut butter chips and chocolate chips – and ran to my hair dryer! I finally showered and made it to the high school where the brownies were a big hit with Kyle’s friends, soccer coaches, and principals!
Why do I share this ridiculous story with you? I share it because I am a woman who takes herself way too seriously at times. I’ve healed much on this journey, but it would have been easy for me to let that situation ruin my entire day by allowing Satan to convince me that I was inadequate and incapable as a wife, mother, and a writer desiring that my words bring healing, hope, and encouragement to others. But that day, I CLUNG to truth and remembered that God’s promises are true and He alone brings us the hope to persevere and succeed in this life. Psalm 119:49-52 tells us, “…you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” His hope is an anchor for our souls (Heb. 6:19), firm and secure. We do not need to seek man’s approval because what this world has to offer is empty and meaningless. Christ promises us that His “divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through Him…” and that it’s those precious promises that allow us to participate with Him and escape the corruption of this world (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Dear sisters, it is my hope and prayer that in whatever season you find yourself today, you will discover comfort in a very real and magnificent God who has our back – even when we make a mess of our brownies!
Guest: Kit Hoeck – khoeck@suddenlink.net
