I HAVE MADE JELLY1

I have made jelly!

I can’t help thinking of Tom Hanks’ line from the movie, “Castaway”, “I have made fire!”

Today is Saturday, my favorite day of the week, a day I get to choose what project I’m going to tackle.  I was walking back from feeding the chickens and hanging out a load of laundry and I routinely check on the plants and plantings on my way back to the house.  I discovered that the spearmint was about to leap out of the tub it’s planted in and invade the surrounding landscape.  I decided I should try my hand at making jelly, something I’ve never done before in my whole life.

I checked the cupboard and sure enough I had a box of Sure Jell.  I didn’t know how to use it but I had it.  I put the box on the stove top.  I got on the trusty internet and browsed for some mint jelly recipes.  There are many from which to choose.

I got out my water bath canner and washed jars, lids and rings.  I got the jars in the canner and started the sterilization process.  I gathered the mint, washed it and put it in the pan with water to make the infusion the recipe called for.  I also put the lids in a skillet of water to ready them for the sealing process.  Meanwhile the box of  Sure Jell is still on the stove top, which is now complete covered with pans of various and gigantic sizes. 

I smell something burning.  I don’t know where it’s coming from and I’m beginning to panic, when I catch site of a little smoke rising from the stove.  I shift the gigantic canner and there is the smoldering box of Sure Jell.   Not too burnt, just the outer box has a small hole in it.  So glad it was no more than that.  I make the decision that I can carry on with the project without having to make a trip to the store for more Sure Jell.

 

I used the recipe as far as the quantity of water mint and sugar, but also got a second opinion from the Ball Blue Book of Canning.  BBB doesn’t use Sure Jell, so for a third opinion I pulled out the insert, slightly scorched and brown, from the Sure Jell box.  Now the little packet of Sure Jell was slightly injured during the scorching incident, and about a tablespoon of it hardened up so that it was unusable.  I make the decision to continue on with the remaining ingredients.  

I used the recipe as far as the quantity of water mint and sugar, but also got a second opinion from the Ball Blue Book of Canning.  BBB doesn’t use Sure Jell, so for a third opinion I pulled out the insert, slightly scorched and brown, from the Sure Jell box. 

When I raised the jars from the boiling water bath, I hear immediate ‘pop!’ ‘pop!’ ‘pop!’ as the lids seal on the jars!  I have to say that is a most satisfying sound.  It means all your hard work—from planting watering and growing the mint, preparing the jars and lids, and cooking the jelly—has come to a wonderful fruition. 

 

 

I could hardly wait for it to cool to taste it on an English muffin!  

I pronounce that it is very good!

WRITE!!

Thus speaks the LORD God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.  (Jeremiah 30:1-3 )

I like to practice calligraphy.  I especially enjoy copying favorite scriptures into a little notebook.  When done correctly the lettering is quite beautiful.  I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be a Jewish scribe in the ancient world, daily marching to the job of writing the Holy Scriptures.  They had to follow stringent rules in order to be able to write, and their tools were at best, primitive.  I admire the dedication and concentration such endeavors required.  I know first-hand how difficult it is to maintain the size and spacing of letters.  A scribe named Baruch recorded the book of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah 36:17 says:  And they asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words—at his instruction?”   We have this devoted group of people who endured many hardships to thank for the beginnings of our Holy Bible. 

To write is a command given many times in the Bible.  This is a command that not only Moses and the prophets, but also the disciples and Paul, took to heart.  Each contributor’s effort has shared with us the good news of the scriptures.  They wrote it on their hearts so that we can write it on our hearts. I thank my God for the many voices of the Bible and for the opportunity to read and learn more about my Lord.  So many people have been inspired by the Bible to write songs, commentaries, poems, essays, books, to the glory of God.  They aid us in understanding the scriptures, but the best way to know the Bible is to read it and to write it. 

Let it clothe you like a garment:  He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.  (Psalm 91:3-5)

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great:  You are clothed with honor and majesty, (Psalm 104:1)

Let it comfort you:  My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.  (1 John 2:1-3)

How fortunate we are to have a book that assures us, educates us, cheers us, offers hope in a hostile world!  I urge you to get to know your Bible so that you may get to know the Lord more intimately.  Write it on your heart.  Allow it to daily change your life.  It will spill over to those around you.