She was a Norwegian farmer and her butter was more precious than gold. People said her cows loved her and gave her the very best cream that became the best butter when she churned it. But she did not stop with the churning, she fashioned it into beautiful sculptures. Firm yet soft, delicate and deep, the flavor made everything it touched taste like priceless treasure.
If I close my eyes I can still taste mom’s dark brown molasses bread fresh from the oven meeting that sculpted butter given to us by our neighbor. I don’t know what any of you want for Christmas, but I pray for each of you priceless treasures that no amount of money can buy.
I pray you will be rich in friendship and strong in family and community. Mom loved to bake bread and her friend loved to sculpt and churn butter. I don’t know if either of them thought of it as exchanging gifts, but they were both gifts that money could not buy.
One of the joys of living in Cook County is the abundance of things made by hand, from banana bread to mittens, felted wool vests to hand sewn shoes. Rarely have I seen a community that cares and shares as deeply as all of you. Since moving last winter, there has been one kindness after another heaped upon us.
Welcome and hospitality are not just your middle names; it is who you are and how you are. Not just here or there, but everywhere I go. Living here is like living in the wondrous old song…It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold…
May the ancient songs of light and love fill your hearts with joy. May peace grow here and in hearts communities all across this beautiful, beloved planet we call home. There is so much to be grateful for in this land of shining waters and towering trees, of neighbors more precious than gold.
O ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow… I pray for all the people on this earth and in our community who are struggling for one reason or another. May each one be surrounded by God’s love and care, kindness and truth. May the rough paths be eased and the sorrows shared.
And I offer prayers of gratitude for the countless ways all of you participate in growing kindness and grace, beauty and blessing. Thank you for being my neighbors. Thank you for being you. May God drench all of you in deepest blessing! May your days and nights be merry and bright!
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Pastor Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ.
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