Christmas Cookies

Who doesn’t love a good Christmas cookie? There’s a family recipe that Grandma used to make every year. All throughout the year actually, but especially at Christmas time. We’d all receive tins of prepared Christmas cookies. Getting the tin of cookies in the mail was always a highlight of Christmas.

Grandma loved to bake—she said it was her spiritual gift. Every time I visited her when I’d wake in the morning there was fresh banana bread, Grandma knew I loved banana bread. One time in the morning she asked if I were hungry and wanted pancakes, I told her no, because of all the pasta I had eaten the night before. Then Grandma said, “Well, let me make you one pancake,” and I agreed to one pancake. When I sat down the pancake was the size if my entire plate—and it was a big plate!

Grandma loved to cook for us grandkids and she showed her love through baking and feeding us. I loved visiting my grandmother, and I loved eating her food.

Food still equals love for me.

This past week I decided to make Grandma’s Christmas cookies, her “famous” chocolate chip cookie recipe. As I prepared the cookies I felt like my grandmother was with me. I remembered back to baking and making these cookies with her. She’s been gone for over 20 years and it still stings sometimes. Making her cookies I was overwhelmed with a flood of joy and sorrow. Grief is weird, it hits you when you least expect it. As I was making the cookies I really missed my grandmother.

Christmas time is wonderful, and yet, it can also bring up feelings of sorrow as we remember those who will not be with us this holiday season. What I have learned is to accept the sad feelings along with the happy memories and allow myself to feel the full spectrum of emotions.

We need to fully grieve in order to let the light in, in order to make room for more joy.

And then, usher in gratefulness.

Be grateful for the blessings we have. Be present with our feelings and with our blessings. And most of all let joy in. Allow God’s love to permeate us and let love in.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

– Galatians 5:22-23

Thanks for visiting LuSays. Need a gift for the season? Check out books by Lucille Williams: Know someone who’s getting married? From Me to We would make the perfect gift. Want to give someone some fun laughs and a boost in their intimacy department? The Intimacy You Crave is a fun gift. Know a mom who could use some encouragement? Order a copy of The Impossible Kid.  And on preorder Turtle Finds His Talent for ages 2-6.