Unfortunately, I have a sweet tooth. I have never understood rail thin women who complain about a dessert being, “too sweet,” “too rich,” and certainly not, “too big.” That probably explains why I am not rail thin.
I had a good excuse for making desserts with two active boys in the house. Their favorites were plain, as desserts go—blueberry pie, apple pie, Mississippi mud cake, and any kind of cheesecake. Nowadays, since there are only two of us and we two do not need a whole lot of sweets, desserts are usually for special occasions, and so they have gotten a little more “special” too. Coconut cake with lime curd filling and coconut cream cheese frosting; chocolate fudge torte with chocolate ganache filling, dark chocolate frosting, and peanut butter ganache trim, garnished with dry roasted peanuts; lemon sour cream cake with lemon filling and lemon cream cheese frosting; and a peanut butter cup cheesecake piled with chopped peanut butter cups and drizzled with hot fudge sauce; all these have found their way into my repertoire and my heart.
But one thing I have never done is feed my family on dessert alone. Dessert is for later, after you eat your vegetables, after the whole grain, high fiber, high protein meals, after you’ve taken your vitamins and minerals. Everyone knows that, except perhaps children, and I would have been a bad mother had I given in to their desires instead of doing what was best for them.
So why do we expect God to feed us nothing but dessert? Why do we think life must always be easy, fun, and exciting? Why is it that the only time I say, “God is good,” is when I get what I want?
God is good even when He makes me eat my vegetables, when I have to choke down the liver, and guzzle the V8. God is good when I undergo trials and misfortunes. God is good even when the devil tempts me sorely. He knows what is best for me, what will make me strong and able to endure, and, ultimately, He knows that living a physical life on this physical earth forever is not in my best interests.
Eating nothing but cake and pie and pastries will create a paradox—an obese person who is starving to death, unable to grow and become strong. God knows what we need and gives it to us freely and on a daily basis. He doesn’t fill us up with empty spiritual calories. He doesn’t give us just dessert. Truly, God is good.
Rejoice the soul of your servant, for unto you O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you Lord are good, and ready to forgive and abundant in lovingkindness unto all them who call upon you. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, neither any works like your works. All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and they shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things. You are God alone, Psa 86:4,5,8-10.
Dene Ward
I had a good excuse for making desserts with two active boys in the house. Their favorites were plain, as desserts go—blueberry pie, apple pie, Mississippi mud cake, and any kind of cheesecake. Nowadays, since there are only two of us and we two do not need a whole lot of sweets, desserts are usually for special occasions, and so they have gotten a little more “special” too. Coconut cake with lime curd filling and coconut cream cheese frosting; chocolate fudge torte with chocolate ganache filling, dark chocolate frosting, and peanut butter ganache trim, garnished with dry roasted peanuts; lemon sour cream cake with lemon filling and lemon cream cheese frosting; and a peanut butter cup cheesecake piled with chopped peanut butter cups and drizzled with hot fudge sauce; all these have found their way into my repertoire and my heart.
But one thing I have never done is feed my family on dessert alone. Dessert is for later, after you eat your vegetables, after the whole grain, high fiber, high protein meals, after you’ve taken your vitamins and minerals. Everyone knows that, except perhaps children, and I would have been a bad mother had I given in to their desires instead of doing what was best for them.
So why do we expect God to feed us nothing but dessert? Why do we think life must always be easy, fun, and exciting? Why is it that the only time I say, “God is good,” is when I get what I want?
God is good even when He makes me eat my vegetables, when I have to choke down the liver, and guzzle the V8. God is good when I undergo trials and misfortunes. God is good even when the devil tempts me sorely. He knows what is best for me, what will make me strong and able to endure, and, ultimately, He knows that living a physical life on this physical earth forever is not in my best interests.
Eating nothing but cake and pie and pastries will create a paradox—an obese person who is starving to death, unable to grow and become strong. God knows what we need and gives it to us freely and on a daily basis. He doesn’t fill us up with empty spiritual calories. He doesn’t give us just dessert. Truly, God is good.
Rejoice the soul of your servant, for unto you O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you Lord are good, and ready to forgive and abundant in lovingkindness unto all them who call upon you. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, neither any works like your works. All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and they shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things. You are God alone, Psa 86:4,5,8-10.
Dene Ward
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