- March 29, 2024
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My father, Howard, was in the Air Force, and my mother, Angeline, was a homemaker. They didn’t have a lot of money to buy Christmas presents for my three siblings and me. One thing they did give us was lots of love, great food and faith in God and in the future, no matter how bleak things might look in the present. The beauty of my childhood is that I never knew that we didn’t have much money.
When I became an adult, I made a personal decision to accept Jesus Christ and become a Christian. My decision has beautifully and wonderfully shaped my life and my faith. It takes a great faith to carry on in the midst of the challenges that we all face day in and day out. Unlike earthly things, which become worn and depleted when used time after time, faith becomes even stronger and more abundant the more it’s used.
I often hear about people “losing faith.” If you feel like that, all I can say is that lost things are often found in the most unexpected places and at the most unexpected times. I’ve misplaced things, thinking that they were lost, only to find them when I was looking for something else. The thing I’d thought I’d lost was there all the time, waiting for me to discover it again. Faith is like that. Sometimes when you think you’ve reached the end of your ability to believe, something or someone comes along to shore you up so that you can go on.
I have great faith in the future and in the ability of the American people to persevere in these difficult times. We must love our country and hold fast to the faith and the moral principles America was founded upon. No matter what your circumstances might be, hold on to hope, preserve and cherish your family’s heritage and memories, and most importantly in these difficult times, keep the faith.
While the holidays pose their own special set of personal and financial challenges, it’s also a time to appreciate and treasure the priceless things in our lives — love, faith and family. While I live my life in a way that celebrates Christ everyday, Christmas is a special time and one of my favorite holidays.
Some of my best Christmas memories are linked to the dishes my mother made during the holidays. This recipe for my Mom’s Butter Cookies is a simple dessert from my childhood. Making and sharing these delicious cookies is almost as fun as eating them!
Merry Christmas, keep the faith, and have a blessed holiday season!
MOM’S BUTTER COOKIES
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted or stirred before measuring
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
Walnut, pecan or almond halves, toasted (optional)
Angela Shelf Medearis is an award-winning children’s author, culinary historian and author of seven cookbooks. Her new cookbook is “The Kitchen Diva’s Diabetic Cookbook.” Her website is www.divapro.com. To see how-to videos, recipes and much, much more, Like Angela Shelf Medearis, The Kitchen Diva!, on Facebook and go to Hulu.com. Recipes may not be reprinted without permission from Angela Shelf Medearis