Gathered Along the Way Apparently, We’re Still Learning

Gathered Along the Way

Apparently, We’re Still Learning

🧭 Compass Heading: A teachable heart

This weekend, I made four different batches of pickled vegetables.

Four.

Because apparently, when I wonder how something would taste, my next reasonable step is to involve most of the refrigerator.

By Monday, I had already opened a jar…Patience, that’s for another day. 😂

It was for research, obviously. Someone has to oversee quality control around here, and I take my responsibilities very seriously.

They were already delicious. 😋

But the fun of trying a recipe is that you don’t quite know what you’ll find. You can read up on the subject, google, chat, gather everything, follow the directions—and you still have to taste it.

🌿 Compass Bearing: Leave room to learn.

There was plenty of that happening around our house this weekend. Grandkids cooking. I tested pickling recipes. One sick grand to shower with love and attention.

A little cooking. A little experimenting. A little Grammy time.

And somewhere in there is a picture I love: Coralee making lunch while her Grammy is still trying new things herself.

I want those little people to know that growing up doesn’t mean you’ve finished learning.

Although I would appreciate eventually understanding where all my lids, spoons and socks go.

🧭 Compass Thought

I like figuring things out. Give me a recipe, a project, or an idea, and I’m probably already gathering supplies.

That willingness to try is a good thing. But I want to be just as willing to listen.

Especially when the lesson comes through another person.

A new recipe? I’ll consider its suggestions.

Someone suggesting I could have handled something differently? Well. Let me put down my fork and work on my face first. 🤪

There’s a tender kind of humility in admitting we still have something to learn. Even in the kitchen we’ve cooked in for years. Even in the relationships we know well. Even in our walk with Jesus.

I can come to Him with a full explanation of why I said what I said—and still need to quiet down long enough to let Him show me another way.

Through Scripture. Through a gentle correction. Through someone whose experience is different from mine.

I hope my grandchildren see that in me, too: a Grammy who can teach them something, then turn around and say, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

📖 Compass Verse

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
James 1:19 (NASB)

🙏 Compass Prayer

Jesus, keep my heart teachable. Help me listen without planning my defense and receive correction with grace. Let the people I love see that I’m still learning to follow You. Amen.

🌿 Something I Gathered Along the Way

This week, I want to practice saying, “Tell me more,” before deciding I already understand.

The vegetables have had their taste test.

My listening skills could probably use one, too.

Find your way home.

Karen 🧡
The Twisted Compass

Notice More. Love Well. Gather Often.

***The Giardiniera was the first taste test - completely satisfied with the recipe…I will say that I did not add the olives due to certain unnamed family members (COUGHblakely COUGHmike ) that don’t know they like olives yet! “Olive” them anyways…

BOLO for the Giardiniera recipe after the website launch! Oh and Cora’s tomato soup recipe also!

Did I mention…the website launch is FRIDAY around 7:00 pm - watch for a live here on Facebook.🎉