In a Jam

This season of the year one thing we enjoy doing at our house is to make jams and jellies. We enjoy making jam as a family project. We often go places we can pick our own or buy good fruit for our jams. It is especially satisfying when we can use fruit we grow ourselves. In the winter we all enjoy the fruits of our summer labors.

This summer we decided to try some new recipes that just sounded good. One recipe we found was for Habanera Mint Jelly.  We had some fresh mint in the garden that we did not know how we were going to use. We bought some fresh habaneras. We like things spicy and thought it would make a good sauce for meats, to add some heat and spice things up.

I picked the mint and sliced the habaneras while Joyce and Carra cooked and stirred and cooked the mixture, added the remaining ingredients, and processed the jelly.

When it was all done we tasted it. Since it was an experiment we did not have too high hopes. To our surprise it turned out to be a mild flavor. The coolness of the mint combined with the heat of the habanera produced just the right amount of spice and flavor. The jelly on cream cheese with a cracker turned out to be perfect! This jam turned out to be an unexpected pleasant surprise.

Many times something happens in our lives that turn out to be an unexpected surprise. Sometimes the surprise is good and sometimes it is not so good. A fresh perspective can temper every experience. If we fret over every little detail we can worry ourselves to death. But if we see them all as part of a bigger picture the good and the bad can mellow each other out.

We may think that we have it all figured out but unexpected surprises can change our plans. Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.” God is not surprised by the extremes that happen to us. It is all part of his recipe for Jam. He takes the mint and habanera that we experience and makes it all surprisingly good.

Bro. Robin