Doc says I make I mean batch of vegetable soup. I tell him I’ve had years of practice and if there’s one thing I’ve learned…
Know when to walk away.
You know what I’m talking about. You add a dot of garlic.
Shoot! Too much.
So you counter it with a pinch of basil.
Hmmm. That’s not right either.
Maybe it needs a smidgeon of brown sugar.
At the end of the day you realize you should’ve stopped ten flavors ago. There’s something to be said for learning to———
Trust the Soup.
Here’s the thing about soup: if you leave it alone, the ingredients you slaved to pour into it will have time to stew. They melt, mold, brew and brine until the blend that was destined to birth arrives.
I’m learning to do that with people I care about.
I had a recent (as in this morning) opportunity to choose between stirring the pot and trusting the soup.
Dang girls. It was hard.
The difficulty didn’t stem from the sense that I was some type of savior and I knew I could help. On the contrary, I wasn’t convinced I knew what to say. All I really knew was that I cared deeply. But, before I opened my mouth I removed myself, found a quiet spot, and prayed.
“Lord, what do you want me to do? Every fiber in my being thinks this is not the best decision but I’m not sure what, if anything, I should say?”
You already know how He responded.
Loud. And. Clear.
Trust the soup sister.
You see, when my kids were younger and I wanted some painful “this or that” to go away God gave me an image of stew simmering on a stove. He’d remind me that as much I was ready to remove the heat, He wasn’t quite done.
“I can take it off the stove honey, but the end result won’t be quite as good.”
He wasn’t teaching me to trust the soup…
He was teaching me to trust HIM.
How about you?
Is there someone you care about for whom intervention of some type seems wise? Without question there are times we should respond with words and/or actions when we’re convinced it’s what a loved one needs most.
But perhaps, there are times we need to take a step back. We need to close our mouths and instead of reaching with our hands we need to fold them, pray, and trust the Chef.
I found these notes in His cookbook. I hope they encourage you as much as they encouraged me.
“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” Philippians 1:6 MSG
“…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV
Today I’m whispering a prayer for myself and anyone else who wants to help, but doesn’t know how and in the end may simply need to trust the soup.
What a powerful post and it arrived at just the perfect time for me. I’m dealing with some situations where I really just need to trust the soup. Love your site and writing style! ❤️
Once again this is a timely lesson for me! I recently wrote a post on this very thing…..”Silence is Golden”. It’s taken me a long time to learn because I’ve been in “mechanic mode”. I’ve wanted to jump in and fix things for the ones I care about.! I’m finally realizing that it’s not necessarily always my job and in many instances remaining silent and still IS the golden response. Ohhhh, but it’s not easy for this girl to leave her toolbox closed! I love the thought of instead of “working” with my hands and mouth use them to pray!!! Love it Cindy!
Lauren
What a powerful post and it arrived at just the perfect time for me. I’m dealing with some situations where I really just need to trust the soup. Love your site and writing style! ❤️
ckkwpadmin
I’m so glad it came at the right time Lauren. Sometimes I think God knows when we need a confirmation. So glad you stopped by!
Cindy Wilkins
Once again this is a timely lesson for me! I recently wrote a post on this very thing…..”Silence is Golden”. It’s taken me a long time to learn because I’ve been in “mechanic mode”. I’ve wanted to jump in and fix things for the ones I care about.! I’m finally realizing that it’s not necessarily always my job and in many instances remaining silent and still IS the golden response. Ohhhh, but it’s not easy for this girl to leave her toolbox closed! I love the thought of instead of “working” with my hands and mouth use them to pray!!! Love it Cindy!
ckkwpadmin
“Remaining silent and still IS the golden response.” Love this Cindy. So much truth!
Lauren
So much wisdom in this! Thanks for sharing!
ckkwpadmin
I wish I could “see” you more than on this page but I’m so glad we get to connect Lauren!