Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Of Fat Pies and Kind Words




A word of kindness is better than a fat pie.  ~Russian Saying


What comes to mind when you think of a fat pie?  I made an apple pie for Sunday dinner -- what a delicious aroma filled the house! But when I put the rolls in to bake, we began to smell something -- and it wasn't the yeasty smell of Sue's Sunday Dinner Rolls.  When I opened the oven, smoke billowed out.  Lesson learned: Boiled over apple pie is not the cinnamon sweetness of the pie itself.



When we open our mouths to speak, we want our words to taste like juicy apple pie, not the burnt sugary mess in the bottom of my oven.  Every conversation should be filled with kindness.

Tears filled my eyes when I read that 160,000 children miss school each day because they fear what their peers will say about them. Doesn't reading this statistic make your heart just ache?  It reminds me why I tried to instill the virtue of kindness in my daughters on a daily basis.



Solomon knew the importance of kind words.  He said, "Kind words are like honey -- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Once we taste the sweetness, we are spoiled for life.  Because, not only can the person receiving the kind words taste the gift of bees, but we, too, can enjoy the sweetness that comes from bestowing the kindness blessing.

Blessing with kind words is not something we put on when we feel like it.  It's a way of life. With practice it becomes who we are.  

I'd like to challenge you to intentionally bless someone with kind words this week -- someone besides family and friends:
  • Pastor
  • Sales clerk
  • Medical personnel
  • Soldier
  • Coffee shop server
  • Policeman
  • Boss
  • A child
  • Harried Mother
By being intentional, you will begin a habit that will change the rest of your life.  Again, it is Solomon who gives us the wisdom of kind words: "Gentle words are a tree of life." As you bless with kindness, you will be growing leaves on your own sheltering tree -- a tree of life.  And that pie?  No comparison, because kind words really are better than a fat pie.


* * * * *

Mini Pecan Pies

Pie crusts

1 lg. egg
1 1/4 cups brown sugar packed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mold pie crusts to mini muffin tins.  Mix the eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt.  Stir in the pecans.  Fill each crust 2/3 full.  Bake 17 minutes.  The shells will be light brown and the filling puffed up.  Cool and remove from pan.  Yield: 30 pies.



22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gret thought, Pamela. I am currently preparing a school assembly on the "bucket filler vs bucket spiller" idea - working in the Quality Character Traits we should be instilling in our children - be they our own or our students. The concept of kindness is something that, I fear, needs to actually be taught these days - "This is what it Looks like, Sounds like, Feels like" - and in your case, today - SMELLS like!

Lovely pie idea - could go for a gluten free variety myself, just now.

Joy!
Kathy

no spring chicken said...

I promise not to enjoy the pie until I'm sure I deserve it!

Again, a wonderful truth Pamela. Thank you.

Blessings, Debbie

Krista said...

I shall take the challenge!

Adelina Priddis said...

thanks for the challenge. it is so true that kind words are a blessing to everyones lives, and when we speak them it enriches our own life.

~The Bargain Babe from *Zucchini Summer Blog* said...

Fantastic post. I try to always use a very polite tone when talking to waitresses, bank tellers, etc, and to always be grateful for their help. I need to get better at being able to do more than that though and pay a compliment too. A little kindness from a stranger can be such a good boost to someone's day!

Anonymous said...

Pamela, This is so relevant to what the Lord has been teaching me, especially in terms of speaking to unbelievers. I have known Christian families where they scream and yell at each other. When I didn't know Jesus, I would look at these families and think...are these really the people who are "close" to God? It really seared my conscience and made me question Christianity. It is so true that our words can either kill or uplift ~ what a blessing a sweet, kind word is to the soul!! Thank you for so poignantly sharing!! Much Love ~alice

Stacie said...

A good reminder to intentionally bless everyone with whom I come into contact, that every small decision I make matters. While I might not choose harsh words most of the time, I often choose silence (especially with strangers) instead of kind words. It's an easy change I can make.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful challenge. I accept and will find one person to send a word of encouragement to today.

Lindsay said...

I recently challenged a group of teenagers with this thought. I can't stand bullying! Thanks for this post!

Bethe77 said...

Such a wonderful reminder of how our words can bring life to others. Kindness shared goes along ways and may touch beyond the one shared. Love this word you ahve blessed us with today. reminded me of the story my daughter shared fo my granddughter who started second grade this week. She started in a new school with new friends. SAhe told her parents this a is a fresh start for me and new days and new friends. Out of the mouth of babes.
Blessings

Anonymous said...

I forget to put a cookie sheet under my pie all of the time. Been there. Done that. Your wisdom is timeless, both about our pies and our words.

Esther Asbury said...

Trying to catch up on some of my blog reading --- really enjoyed this timely reminder.

Sharon said...

OK, when I first started reading this post, I wondered - is there something called a fat pie, or is it just something that happens when you eat too many of them? Hmmm...

Yes, my heart bleeds for these children. I was the victim of bullying when I was in the 7th grade. It was a very harrowing experience - and something which colored my outlook on life and myself.

It's an unkind world out there, and I love your advice to be intentional with our kindness. I try to say a good word to everyone I meet. One thing I make a point of is to look at someone's name tag first thing. Then, I can say a good word, or a thank you - and make it personal. I am blessed by the smiles I get...

Let's pass on some words that *fill* up people's hearts. Yes, much better than fat pie!!

GOD BLESS!

Jodi said...

Hi Pamela, thank you for your kind words on my blog. And you're right about the honey being good on wheat bread. It was wheat bread that I baked. :)

Gayle said...

I am up for the challenge!!! Yes, to watch our words is so needed.

noreen said...

Hi Pamela,

Challenge accepted! I really like the one about a sales clerk and soldier. They're all good but those two jumped out at me. I feel called to do just that! I agree, an uncontrolled tongue can be a weapon.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

really great analogy...thanks Pamela...hope you have a great weekend.

Julie Todd said...

Beautiful words, Pamela.....

Thanks for stopping in to visit my blog and the sweet note you left. I am blessed!

Julie

Saleslady371 said...

A delicious message Pamela, one I can appreciate often.

Maria Matter said...

lovely post, thank you for sharing!
thank you too for this recipe!

Ruth said...

Praying this quality for my grand kids today. Thanks for the challenge to do this myself!
Blessings, Pamela!

Julia said...

Thanks for the reminder on the importance of our words. Thanks also for visiting today!