As Christmas is put away, many are in a quandary as to what they should do with one particular gift - the ever-present fruitcake. Many tossed theirs as soon as they could and then others have been eating away for a while. The mere fact that the fruitcake has become such an icon at Christmas time should show us that this dilemma many face may be an ongoing concern in years to come.
I love fruitcake. I love the mixture of fruit and nuts because it is yummy and simply because it reminds me of my granny. Granny was a baker. One of her favorites was a cookie called a Lizzie. It was filled with candied fruit, so it was generally a mainstay at our holiday celebrations.
This year one of my friends re-gifted a Colin Street Bakery fruitcake when I told her I like them. As I opened it up, just the candied fruit on the top took me back to the home place and a plate of Granny’s Lizzies on the bar with the other desserts. I have enjoyed each bite.
When you think about it, fruitcakes resemble many of our lives. Everything all crammed together with some bright spots every once in a while. Each piece when taken from the whole is just another reminder of how life is full to overflowing with goodness or nastiness depending on your view. I choose the former, but I am around way too many, who are the later.
As we approach the New Year, let’s remember that hard times, grief, frustration, etc. are coming. It is not a matter of “if” but “when”. You cannot stop it nor can you predict it so you can get yourself ready. The only thing you have any control over is your perspective and who you lean on when you need to. I want to encourage each of us to remember that we never have to walk through hard times alone. God once said to the Israelites and he says it to us in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” That is a lot of promises all compressed together.
I just have to remember that when my heart is happy or heavy. When I have a friend re-gift me something I enjoy as well as the times I am grieving the fact Granny will never know her great grandkids that are utterly amazing. You see it is going to happen, but my anchor keeps me from drifting into a dark place because I can keep two perspectives; in this case it is thankfulness and sorrow both coinciding together.
I do not know if you are having a fruitcake predicament or if it is something totally different but drop your anchor and get a proper perspective of what is occurring. You do not have to like it, but if dealt with accordingly someone can benefit. If I am guessing correctly that someone might just be you. I think I will have some fruitcake with my coffee. Blessings to each of you in 2020.