Today’s scripture: Galatians 5: 22-23, 25 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
My love affair with cookies started as a child. Grandma made the best chocolate chip cookies for when us kids would come visit. She stored them in a cookie jar she named Johnny and put a piece of bread in with the cookies to keep them just the right texture. Each time we took a cookie out of the jar, the lid created a rattle that could be heard all through the house and Grandma would yell “get your hands out of that cookie jar” which in kid-speak meant “I love you, I made the cookies especially for you, and have as many as you want and enjoy.” I think of Grandma and Johnny every holiday, because yes, cookies were present for every celebration.
Grandma is in Heaven and Johnny is in my home now. These days Johnny is the keeper of hot tea bags instead of cookies. Keeping cookies in my house is a recipe for disaster because it’s too easy for me to overindulge with them. My habit of eating “drive-by” cookies is deeply engrained. I’m still working on changing my relationship with cookies to pick “one” I really like, share the cookie experience with someone special, and converse over coffee and one cookie.
Thought for the day: Where in the holidays can I practice living more fully in the fruit of the Spirit. Whether its letting go of bitterness when that certain relative who knows which buttons to push puts the pedal to the metal, a self-control matter, and so on, today’s scripture is a reminder of the Holy Spirit that resides within us and the choice we have to tap into that strength to gain peace.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.