My husband performed something of a miracle this week. He made bacon.
He didn’t cook bacon. He MADE it. From scratch.
He cured the pork all week long and then smoked it on our back porch this afternoon.
When he pulled the slab of mouth-watering goodness out of the smoker, cut off a thin slice, fried it in a pan for just a minute, and gave me the sizzling piece – I thought perhaps I could live on just this for the next few years.
I have often said that there are five reasons I could never be a vegetarian:
1. Pancetta.
2. Prosciutto.
3. Salami.
4. Carpaccio.
5. BACON.
Note – four of these are cured pork and the first and the last are very similar. Bacon is smoked, while pancetta is not. (A little shout out to Bart Simpson fans here! I absolutely love this clip too!!)
It was a GREAT afternoon!
If you’ve eaten at our home, you know my husband is a culinary wizard. I like to say that I cook for sustenance and to feed our family during the week. But on the weekend and when we entertain, the love of my life cooks for fun and relaxation. He’s made his own marshmallows, candied oranges, corned beef, sausage….even his own hot sauce (after growing his own peppers first – multiple kinds for the right mix of flavors, naturally). And these are just the things that immediately come to mind because he’s made them in the last year or two! We’ve been married 19 years. Do the math. The number of delicious meals he’s made is mind boggling!
People say my guy is a “foodie,” and I guess that’s true. But I think he’s also gifted. And what that means for me and our kids is that we’re very, very blessed.
If you ask him, my husband will tell you he enjoys cooking. And he likes to see people take pleasure in the fruits of his efforts.
Which is the way it’s supposed to be.
Because when you bless others with a God-given gift, it will bring you joy.
What are your gifts? Do you know?
Do you often sell yourself short?
Don’t think you have to have stellar musical ability or athletic prowess to be considered gifted.
One could argue that the world needs people to exercise their ‘quieter’ talents even more.
Are you a good listener?
Are you patient and calm when others would rush a tender soul?
Do you create warm and inviting spaces where people like to gather?
Are you a natural ‘encourager’?
Are you good at problem-solving?
We all have gifts, and no two of us are the same. Imagine if everyone used his or her gifts to their fullest extent.
Your gifts were given to you for two reasons: to help build up the world, and to bring you joy in the process.
That’s something delicious (like bacon!) to think about today.
Bless us, Oh Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord, Amen. – Catholic Mealtime Prayer