Love Is Not All Sugar Donuts...

Today's post touches on children young and old,on sweet treats, on two-part promisesand includes a sweet-treat recipe! Children!Beautiful, busy, eager, teachable, impressionablemost precious of all children!! On Friday, because it was the last official childcare dayfor my 'Friday boys' we made 'tim-bits'/tea-balls.(a recipe from my childhood)see end of post for recipe (for the sake of privacy I cropped the best partof the cuteness, but hopefully you get the idea 💓 There are very few complaints from any of us, when our mouths are filled with warm sugary loving...However, love isn't always warm and sugary, is it?!!And when Miss Janet said , 'no more donut balls for now' there were tears of disappointment. A child has not yet gained the insight or experience to know what is best for them, and sometimes listening/accepting/obeying daddy and mommy's decisions, rather than childish demands induces tantrums.Eventually as the child grows/matures they (hopefully) begin to appreciate and trust their parent's wisdom. The happiest child is the child who has learned, like it or not, to listen to/trust mommy and daddy.What a kind favour parents bestow on their childrenas they gently and firmly leave no doubt as to who is in charge! So too, our Heavenly Abba/Daddy knows what is best for us, and it is also crucial that we, his children, learn to trust Him and obey His commands. The promises God gives us to take refuge, comfort and peace in often requires something on our part as well as His! Below are but a few of His great and precious (2 part) promises ! 2 Pet.1:3-4His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Matt.18:3“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children,you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Heb.10:36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God,you will receive what He has promised. Ps.37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Prov.3.5&6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[] Ps.145:18-19 The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart. How often we see parallels between earthly and Heavenly parenting! Prov.3:11-12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,Nor detest His correction;For whom the Lord loves He corrects,Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Neh.1:5Then I said: “LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—  to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Oh, how often I am prone to want God to do His partwhile unwilling to do mine;to repent, trust, obey, surrender, sacrifice, yield, wait,These words conflict with the bent of human nature...Human nature prefers the 'sugar donuts' of life! Love is not all 'sugar donuts'Inducing sweet smiles and cheersSometimes love is 'thou shalt have nots'Resulting in sobbing tears Love is not all beds of rosesOr a smorgasbord of treatsThe One who innately knows usMingles delights with defeats Lest we becomes proud and greedyCentered on self-pleasing planLove reminds us we are needyOf God first, then fellowman Because love is more than lickingFrosting-coated mixing bowlsLove is learning to stop kickingWhen parental love controls Because love is tears and laughterHolding close and letting goTrusting the blade of the GrafterWhen Want's 'yes' is met with 'no' Love is not always soft cuddlesLove oft suffers long and hardUntil self-will melts in puddlesPliable and battle-scarred Love is bearing, caring, sharingFrom the greatest to the leastCelebrating while preparingSomeone else's five-star feast Love is patient in the processLove is both race and rewardNot all thorns are crowned with rosesNot all losses are restored ...while love, like a life-long 'college'Winnows wanton, worthless boastAs we grow in grace and knowledgeOf the One who loves us most Love is not all songs and dancingLove bears both bitter and sweetWhile learning the fine romancingOf washing each other's feet Janet Martin Tea Balls(nice to mix the night before if you think of it) With mixer beat well 2 eggs and 1 cup br. sugarThen add: 1 cup butter milk or sour milkBeat well then STIR in 1 cup heavy creamand 1/2 tsp. orange flav. or zest of 1/2 an orange.Mix dry ingred. and stir in with wooden spoon or gently whisktill flour disappears.1/4 tsp. nutmeg1 tsp. soda1 tsp. baking powder1 tsp salt3 and 1/2 cups flour Cover. Let stand a few hours or overnight.Heat frying oil to approx. 350F.drop batter by teaspoon full in hot oil.Test one to see if it is cooked in the center;if it is continue dropping, turning, lifting, drainingtill batter is used up. yield: 4 doz.Cool and toss in a mix of white and icing sugar,cinnamon sugar or glaze.