Across languages and cultures, food provides a strong point of communication and connection. Recipes can be handed down from generation to generation, becoming family traditions and the foundation for many memories. A shared meal can break the ice of strained relationships, or a favorite food can bring us comfort when we are sad. As an essential part of life, it is amazing how God blesses us with creativity to blend flavors together into something entirely new and different!
I think recipes reflect reality in this way. Each individual is unique and very different from the next. Yet, when these individuals come together–like the different ingredients in a recipe–something amazing happens. Just as the combination of different ingredients in a recipe makes the final product better than the ingredients on their own, the combination of the unique talents and contributions of different individuals can make a community stronger. Why? Because the ingredients–or people–are united. The Church is the best example of this concept. Very different individuals come together to worship the same Savior who unites us towards the common goal of showing the love of God in tangible ways. When the Church is genuinely united, we can accomplish so much more as a team than as individuals.
I’ve already mentioned the value of traditions; but when traditions are built around recipes, they create a unique moment in time for an individual to hold as a memory central to who they are and how they view the world. A friend of mine told me about her grandma’s cookie recipe she and her sister enjoyed as children, and still enjoy now as adults. Despite not being able to remember the recipe in that moment, she shared with me how much she enjoyed those pecan cookies with dollops of colorful icing! New recipes can also reflect life in how we cannot see the outcome, whether it will be a positive or negative one. But with faith and confidence, what seems impossible suddenly becomes a reality and the end product is better than we ever dreamed!
One of my favorite Christmas recipes is our family’s blend of Party Mix; it follows the recipe from the Chex brand cereal, but with a few modifications. My mom used to make Party Mix every year, then she taught me how to make the recipe; now I make it every Christmas! When I smell the savory aroma of Party Mix in the oven, I know it’s Christmas.
Do you have a favorite recipe, or are there any you treasure only as memories? Wherever you are this season, I hope you are able to make (or eat) your favorite recipes and connect with the people who made them special. Merry Christmas! ❤️💚
Books, Coffee, and Jesus 