Lively Bread

There's just something about homemade bread.

Mom made homemade bread, but I was mainly a watcher then. I felt the uniqueness, especially watching her make cinnamon rolls.

I felt it the first time Grandma Luella taught me how to put the ingredients together, let the yeast cause it to rise, then let it rise again. Working the dough in the kneading process is a work like no other. Pushing the heels of my hands into the living dough and feeling its resistance gives the feeling of working with it and also against it.

When the bread comes out of the oven, I can't help but want to get a buttered slice right away. If you've had a hand in making the bread, you have some ownership, and the satisfaction you feel is a just reward.

If the bread had thoughts, would it resent the kneading, but be glad with the end results?

The Bible talks about God knitting us together, in Psalm 139. He puts our ingredients together, and then we grow (like the bread rising). I know God works the dough--- he kneads us! I can't say I always enjoy being worked over by God, but when I look back at those times I can see how it made me better.

Maybe this world is the oven. (Sure feels like it at times!) When we reach our final home in heaven...mmm, mmm, good!