Cooking and Praying

Here in the South (and especially at our church), we love to feed people.  If you've had a baby, surgery, a death in the family or even if you haven't....we'll feed you.

I have had the opportunity to cook for many families in many different situations. Over the years, I've fed people many different kinds of food, but lately, I've been delivering "breakfast for dinner"...usually, a breakfast casserole, a coffee cake and some fresh fruit.

More often than not, the coffee cake is a version of my sainted mother-in-law's "Steve's Banana Cake". (I sometimes add a cinnamon sugar streusel topping to the recipe you see above.)  My mother-in-law made this for us almost every time we'd visit her home, and it's always been a family favorite.  Any time I make it for someone, they rave about it.  I know what you're thinking, but this is not just simple banana bread, y'all.  I don't know what's so special about it -- maybe it's the family history of making it (no, we don't know who Steve is...), or maybe it's the love that's baked into to....but it is very, very special.

I find that when I'm preparing a meal for folks....whether they are celebrating a new baby, mourning the loss of a loved one or recovering from unexpected surgery...the prep and cooking time is time for me to pray for them. To think of all they might be dealing with or dreading or enjoying or experiencing. To ask God to bless them with peace, comfort, patience and understanding.

I love to feed people.  But feeding my friends and loved ones is more than filling tummies.  It's also a time for me to be in prayer for those that I love.  To thank God for the blessings in my life.  And to ask God to show us His mercy and continue to shower us with His unfailing love.