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My maternal grandmother’s baking was legendary.
Not legendary in the sense that it was particularly elaborate or fancy, but legendary in that, if you knew her, you’d probably have eaten a cookie, brownie, or slice of pie she’d made. She baked homemade pies or cookies for practically every church gathering and family holiday. Her treats were a way of giving thanks and sharing love.
As she aged and was diagnosed with a mild form of dementia, her baking became simpler – a box of Duncan Hines brownie mix (possibly with a few bits of peppermint bark thrown in) for neighbors who helped with yard work.
When she was diagnosed with cancer and sent home with hospice care in December 2018, I decided that her pecan pie would become my tradition, despite my complete lack of cooking or baking skills. The day I carried my first attempt to a work holiday luncheon, my grandmother passed.
My grandmother left me with a legacy of giving, sharing, loving, and creating community. Even if I don’t have her baking talent, I do carry her love and giving spirit with me every day.
Loving God, thank you for the ways in which you create love and community through family and precious memories. May we carry these legacies with us daily as we move through this world. Amen.
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