She holds up one little finger. “One egg,” she says.
When Addie, now 2½, was younger and had just started eating table food her mama cooked, she would often cry and fuss as soon as she smelled the aromas of the meal.
Jayme realized she thought every-thing was ready to eat as soon as she smelled it, and didn’t want to wait any longer!
When she got older, Jayme got her a little step stool, kind of like a lifeguard chair. Addie can stand in it and be safe while seeing what’s going on at the counter. Of course, the stove is off limits for now.
When they visited, Addie pulled my step stool to the sink and helped me wash dishes. She likes to wash the vegetables and fruit. When I cut up veggies, she has a dull table knife she uses to “cut” her celery, too, under supervision.
I was making cornbread, a Southern staple, and Addie was helping. This time, we were using Jiffy, which some think is imitation cornbread, but it was a starting place. Addie and I looked at the side of the box.
There was a picture of an egg. Jayme had been teaching Addie to crack an egg and put the contents in a bowl, add a little milk, and beat it up for Gracie to make scrambled eggs.
So, Addie held up her finger and chanted, “One egg!”
I gave her the egg and she cracked it on the counter, then poured the contents in the bowl I had given her. Most of it got in there. We looked at the box again and it showed a measuring cup and milk. I got out the one-third cup and poured milk in it, telling her, “When it’s time to add the milk, you can pour it in with your egg.”
She did it very well, and then began vigorous beating with her fork. Some of the egg escaped onto the counter, but most was very well stirred up to add to the dry cornbread mix.
As I put it in the oven, I realized how much fun it was to teach the girls how to cook. Yes, it is a little messy. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, it takes some explaining — and usually some laughing — as we go along.
The Bible tells us that, “Children are a heritage from the Lord ...” (Psalm 127: 3a) Our children and grandchildren are God’s precious blessings to us.
We are an example and teacher for our children and grands; we can take the time to tell them about the Bible, Jesus, and His love for us as we go about our holiday preparations. We can show them how to be thankful, how to express it, as well as how to cook!
Along with cookie making, turkey baking, and tree decorating, teach your family, remind your family, pray with your family to keep the meaning of our holidays clear.
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...” (James 1:17) We are blessed with uncountable good things —especially our salvation!
Let’s be thankful, let’s show thankfulness, let’s teach thankfulness!
And keep the cornbread coming.
