As soon as I walked toward the pop-up tent at the edge of the Lowe’s parking lot I could smell them. Peaches.
Farm fresh and tree sweetened.
“Do you have any jam peaches?” I asked the older gentleman standing behind the foldup table. I handed him the money for a big bag.
“Well darlin’,” he said with a smile, “I will make sure to cull out any seconds next week for you. I hate to toss them out so if you can use them, you can have them.”
I went home and made a pie out of the peaches, but I was looking forward to next week when I would hopefully be able to make some jam.
Saturday afternoon I went back to the same parking lot. Grover McMurry was there, just like the week before. He was talking with another man and when they saw me walking toward them, he waved.
They had kept all the peaches that were bruised and had bad spots on them in a box for me.
I don’t know what it is about making jam that brings me so much joy, but it does. The ping of the canning lids as they seal, the smell of fruit simmering on the stovetop, tasting the wooden spoon after the last jar was filled? Sure, it is a lot of work, but there is nothing that compares to home canned jam on fresh bread or biscuits.
As I saw the jars lined up I was thankful. I set one aside for Mr. McMurry. All of the scrumtious jam had been made with peaches considered unselable, but far from unusable.
Just like me.
I am not sure what season you are in right now. Maybe everything is going as planned. If so, that is great. But if you are feeling like this has been a season where you feel like those jam peaches ~ bruised and maybe not Pinterest perfect ~ take heart. You are not alone.
You never know what amazing things can be created when you look at the possibility instead of loss.
I guess you could ask if your jam jar is half empty or half full :~D
As I lined up the jars on the kitchen counter I was reminded of the verse in the Old Testiment, “Behold, I am doing a NEW thing.”
I will have to think about what new thing the Lord is doing in my life. Not because I am perfect..that is obvious, but because God cares about second chances..just like my peach jam.
For me, I am having to learn a lot in this new season. I am learning that being transplanted to a new place takes time for roots to sink down, that pruning is benefical but leaves one feeling vulnerable, and that it is OK to savor the simple joys.