Listening and Shortbread Cookies

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11 (NLT) 

7:00 pm at the dinner table, my head snaps back.  

“Larry, I’m nodding out and it’s only 7:00pm.”  “Well, go to bed,” Larry said. In my heart, I know he’s right. In my head, “no way am I going to bed this early. Clean kitchen, write checks (yes, I still do that), fold clothes washed last week….”  

Sometimes I do not even know I am crying out for help. But God does.  

For the past week and a half, I had nearly fallen asleep eating dinner. Ignoring the feeling, I washed dishes, put away clothes, made lists. I also walked in circles until I finally stopped around 11:00pm. I was productive during the day; but, by 7:00pm, I should have stopped. 

September 3rd… body aches, headaches, sneezes, runny nose 

We returned from a great 5-night cruise. I felt good the entire time. God is a good God. The symptoms didn’t start until after the cruise. Back home, the sneezing, body aches, runny nose started. It was bad. I made an appointment for a Covid and Flu test the next day. Thank God, both were negative. Just a bad cold. 

Today, September 14th 

It’s been eleven days since my symptoms started.  I feel much better, still not one hundred percent. This is the first time I remember having a cold lasting this long with symptoms this severe.  

Lesson learned 

God gives warnings. Listen to my body, no matter how ridiculous it seems. Do the things I don’t necessarily want to do; but should. Walk, exercise to Leslie Sansone on YouTube, ride my stationary bike even when I don’t feel like it. Pass up the short bread cookies I keep circling back to…the three I ate is more than enough. Put my phone down, turn off the television when tired or sleepy… head to bed.  

God has blessed me with a wonderful body and a wonderful life. Remembering to honor my life by honoring my body is an ongoing battle. Sometimes I do good, other times I drop the ball and leave it. But I remember, even at my age, I am a work in progress. So, I plan to pick up the ball and run, well, walk with it, all the days of my life. 

God, thank You for this miraculous body. Forgive me when I fall short and do not honor it by not resting, by worrying, by not exercising and even by eating one too many short bread cookies. Thank You so much for giving me another day to try again. For this gift of life, I am truly thankful. Amen, Amen, Amen   

 Credit: Rainbow Photo taken by Angel Chever Watson in our front yard.

P.S. Here’s the recipe for the shortbread cookies. Delicious! Very easy, only 3 ingredients. 

Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Easy, buttery cookies

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 4-4 1/2 C plain flour
• 4 sticks butter
• 1 C brown sugar

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven 320
• Cream butter and brown sugar.
• Add flour 1 cup at a time to form a dough that can be easy to use.
• Knead for 5 minutes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove.
• Roll into slab. Cut in 1" x 2" lengths. Prick holes with fork.
• Bake 20 - 25 minutes until brown.