I was feeling ambitious last weekend! I made homemade pies, well halfway, because I did use canned filling. I began making a regular old-fashioned pie dough and it went beautifully into my new mini pie pan. Then I needed to make a gluten free dough due to food allergies. When you are working with gluten free products for baking, the ingredient which binds the dough together (gluten) is removed and makes the mixture crumbly and difficult to keep together. I have always struggled with this, but every once in a while I get brave enough to try out a new method. This recipe called for 1 egg which would act as the binding agent. So, I decided to let my ambition take over and go for it!
I made both versions of the dough by hand and delighted in feeling the ingredients between my fingers. I was happy, and peaceful. Even sported my grams apron since pies were one of her favorites to make. Then it happened…frustration with the gluten free dough. It was crumbling under the rolling pin. I added a touch of water and flour for dusting, then began the process again. I had to re-roll the pie sections over and over because the dough was so fragile and suddenly the fun wanted to go away.
Pressing onward and with several attempts later, the pies were covered and in the oven. I managed to manipulate the dough just enough that I could get it into the mini pie pan with a few scattered holes. I took the little sections that broke off and pressed into the pan to cover up them up. I figured the filling was going to mask any impurities in the dough so I wasn’t too worried. However, I felt like I needed to get the tops rolled into one fluid piece, because you can’t really hide ugly on the outside of the pie! In order to accomplish this, I turned on my radio, took a deep breath, and sent a quick nod up to God and Gram in heaven! Viola! Between the radio and prayer, my body and mind relaxed, frustration eased and I rolled out perfectly smooth pie tops!
By now you’re wondering where I’m going with this. Well, as I kept remaking the fragile dough it brought to mind how God had to keep re-making me in my delicate state! He never gave up, and with His hands He molded and shaped me! In that, there were periods of struggle and moments of despair sprinkled in between the aha-moments of happy; but look where He has taken me…writing to you about pies!
Enjoy what you make with your hands and when it’s difficult, be happy because God has a lesson in that for you! Bon appetite!
This post was inspired by Thessalonians 4:11 “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you.”
How has God shaped and molded you? Share in the comments.
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