It was a cold December Sunday morning, and the church was teeming with folks in the Christmas spirit. As service began, a woman stood up to recite a few announcements. The local Meals-on-Wheels organization was looking for folks to bake cookies to give out to its clients during the Christmas season. Anyone wishing to help should have the cookies brought to the local office two weeks from today.
Upon hearing these words, I was overjoyed. I LOVE to bake and LOVE to give my sweet treats away. It is not for my own benefit that I bake (as I cannot eat any sugar or flour or most other ingredients in baked goods), but I bake because I know how much folks enjoy receiving fresh baked goods as a special treat. I also bake because I find it is a celebration to God. With having little energy, any time I can accomplish anything is a direct praise to God for His abundant kindness.
As I set off to accomplish this task, I set a high goal for the number of cookies I wanted to make--one hundred cookies. There were LOTS of folks in our local Meals-on-Wheels program. I hoped perhaps my dedication to the task would ensure that at least every person in the Meals-on-Wheels program would be able to enjoy at least one Christmas cookie. As with any lengthy task, I quickly divided up the challenge. First I made the cookie dough. I then placed the dough in the freezer. A few days later, I took the dough out of the freezer and cut out the Christmas cookies. Next, I placed the formed cookies back in the freezer. A few days later, I took the cookies out and baked them. After they cooled, again they went back in the freezer. A few days later, I took the cookies back out of the freezer and frosted them. Once again, the cookies went back in the freezer until they needed to be dropped off at the office.
On the day I dropped off the cookies, I was overjoyed! I did it! I had made 100 cookies! I was praising God on the journey to the local office. Upon arriving at the office, I quickly slipped in the front door. To my shock, an entire table was full of Christmas treats! I nearly started crying. Oh, the generosity of all the folks at church. I knew not only would every person in the Meals-on-Wheels program receive at least one baked good, they would probably be able to receive a small plateful of delicious sweet treats! "Oh LORD, how abundant are your loving kindnesses!" As I was praising God, a woman walked from a back office to the front lobby area. "Thank you for dropping off some cookies. Can you please sign your name in this book so we have a record of who donated cookies and can send you a thank you note?" I was a little taken aback by her request. I had baked these cookies out of love and joy for God. I did not want any recognition for my efforts. It was God who provided the ingredients and energy to make these treats. I simply was the messenger dropping off the goods. I reluctantly wrote down my information and slunk out the door.
When I got out to my car, I felt utterly defeated. Tears streamed down my face. "LORD, I did this to honor You and to spread Your goodness to those in need. I did not do this for any recognition, and now it seems my efforts have been wasted. My name (and not Yours) has been attached to those cookies. I am terribly sorry. I thank You for the generosity of so many people. I thank You that folks in need will be able to enjoy an abundance of delicious treats. I pray these folks know all these things were done to honor and glorify You."
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