Pumpkin Pie & Baked Squash

It was Thanksgiving morning. With family spread far and wide our celebration would be nothing big, but none-the-less important. Being a household of multiple dietary needs, I set out to make double of nearly everything.  No one was going to be left out this year!

Pumpkin pie is my husband’s favorite and the first thing I made. The pie crust was the perfect consistency, it felt good in my hands. It rolled out smoothly and lined the pie pan perfectly. After making the filling I decorated the top with little pie crust maple leaves, a nod to our Canadian roots. The smell of pumpkin pie and fresh buns filled the air, tummies growled and mouths watered as we anticipated our Thanksgiving meal.

We sat at the table, a setting of four. It finally came time for dessert. The pie was served with large scoops of ice cream. My husband was the first to take a bite. He looked at me sweetly and said, “Honey, you forgot the sugar!” Even with mounds of ice cream he still felt like he was served a plateful of squash, one dish he refuses to eat! His least favorite food was disguised as his FAVORITE! The disappointment was great.

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? …it will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” followed by “You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5)

I thought of these verses, salt without its saltiness would be nearly as bad as sugar without sweetness. How easy it could happen, a perfect looking life displaying pretty deeds but forgetting the most important ingredient of all, a relationship that depends on Jesus to change them.

“Father, may you slow me down when I travel too fast, may you fill me up when I’m running on empty. Please protect me from becoming a pretty serving of baked squash.”