Christmas: Prayer and Process
"They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness." Psalm 145:7 (NIV)
Alabama Coach Nick Saban is widely known, not just for developing championship football teams, but also for developing his "Process." Google Saban's process and you'll find this definition: "A philosophy that emphasizes preparation and hard work over consideration of outcomes and results." According to former players, Saban has a code of conduct which says, "Right is never wrong. It means, in essence, there is only one way to do things, the correct way." Or as former Alabama All American Barrett Jones puts it, "It's not what you do, it's how you do it."
I don't know much about developing championship football teams, but my Christmas cooking also has a process. Like Coach Saban, preparation and hard work are key to successful outcomes and results. And I agree with Jones' assertion that it's not what you do, but how you do it. And so as I prepared and cooked our traditional Evans Christmas dinner, I prayed, not just for successful results, but also for each family member represented by whatever dish I was preparing. As the dishes varied, so did the prayers. Each of my children has their own personal favorite menu items. As I baked or cooked each dish, I prayed for my children and extended family. Cooking is part of my Christmas process. So is prayer.
What that looks like in reality is something like this. As I made chicken and dressing, I prayed for my Mama who made the dish, not just for Christmas, but also for multiple family reunions. I used to think it was because she liked to make it, but realized later on that Mama made dressing to feed a crowd. One large boiled hen provided the ingredients to fill a roaster pan of dressing and stretched our limited resources. Making dressing for me now is a labor of love and time. I doubled the recipe and made enough to take to our extended family gathering on Christmas Day. Through the dressing preparation, I prayed for Mama who no longer can make cornbread dressing, but who taught me how to make it. I thanked God for years of her love, sacrifice, and hospitality. I continue to pray that we- my brother, sister and I- will honor and love her well in these twilight years.
Each family member has his or her favorite dish on our Christmas menu. Robert likes "Mimi" punch and potato salad. As I make it, I pray for Robert and his wife Anne, thanking God for their marriage and life together. Our youngest son Daniel loves squash casserole and peanut butter fudge. I pray for his upcoming marriage to Olivia and their move to New York. Our granddaughters, Caroline and Julia, love macaroni and cheese and smoked turkey. As I cook, I pray for them to never know a day in their lives without knowing Jesus. I pray that these two little girls will grow to be "oaks of righteousness." I also pray for Evans grandchildren and great grandchildren not yet born. Meredith, our daughter, loves cranberry salad and green beans. I pray that God will give her wisdom and discernment to parent her children and grow in God's grace. Many of our dessert favorites have been handed down by Bruce's mom, Mimi. As I bake the Butterfingers or prepare the Chex Mix, I pray for Mimi and Bruce who loves all things sweet. Our son-in-law Clay enjoys sweet potato casserole and cheesecake. As I cook, I pray for his strength to lead his family as a Christian husband and father, asking God to work in each of us that which is pleasing to him." (Hebrews 13:21) As I prepare a Christmas breakfast casserole, I remember my sweet Daddy who faithfully showed up each Christmas morning to eat it. And as I cut oranges and cherries for ambrosia, I thank God for Bruce's great Aunt Margaret who, though gnarled by rheumatoid arthritis, always gave us jars of ambrosia at Christmas. Through it all, I pray for James Bruce who still sees Christmas through the eyes of a child.
For me, cooking and prayer are integral parts of my Christmas process. Preparation, hard work, prayer and gathering to celebrate as a family are all part of our Evans Christmas tradition. I firmly believe that my children and grandchildren will forget most of the gifts that are purchased this Christmas. But I am also convinced that the sights, smells, and tastes of Christmas will remain in their memories long after I am gone. God designed celebrations as a time to remember, rehearse, and recall His faithfulness. As we do that we also look forward to the great feast that one day will come.
“Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Luke 14:15 (NIV)
Amen and Amen...Merry Christmas!