Cookies and Christ
Stories of Faith And Recipes
“You Know- You Can Prove Them Wrong…”
The new PE teacher at my junior high school had been slow to win me over… until one day…
Our class arrived at PE class in the school’s multi-purpose room. That morning it served as our gymnasium for PE and a few short hours later it would be filled with moveable cafeteria tables and benches for the lunch service. I wanted to love PE. I was glad to be out of the classroom for a break, but my undersized frame and underdeveloped athleticism made it difficult to “succeed”.
Our teacher had a raspy voice. He always spoke loudly and assertively. He didn’t joke around and there was certainly no room for messing around in his class. It was a mixture of my fear and intrigue towards his genuineness that allowed him to earn my initial trust.
Coach (that’s what we called our teacher) announced the game that day: “pinball” (essentially dodgeball with an added element of guarding a bowling pin on each side). It was absolutely my least favorite PE game… He then instructed the method for acquiring two “even” teams. He named the two most athletic boys the captains and allowed them to pick their teams- one kid at a time. I felt my whole being turn red and my underdeveloped sweat glands seemed to finally begin to show up… Most of the boys in the class got picked first- then the athletic girls. My heart raced. Fewer and fewer classmates stood on the grayish line made with white athletic tape that was dingy and peeling in its makeshift attempt to be a boundary line. I kept my eyes down the whole time. There were long pauses between picks with audible sighs of defeat from the captains as the minutes wore on and few classmates remained. There was one other girl and me as the last two. I held my breath as the captain called out a name…
It wasn’t mine…
Then Coach said “let’s go” as he blew his whistle. He pointed for me to join the team of the kid who never even called my name.
In this moment, I hated Coach for what “he” did to me. As I slowly and sluggishly walked over to my newly formed team’s side to join the strategic huddle, Coach stopped me. My eyes stayed on the floor until the awkwardness of the silent moment forced me to look up. He simply said… “You know- you can prove them wrong…”
Nearly 40 years later, I see how so much of life can mirror junior high PE class…
Sometimes I feel overworked and overlooked. Some days I feel like no one is calling my name to do anything important that’s not undone by someone else. And I just simply want to feel connected, of worth, a sense of being needed or that I belong.
It’s where I search for acceptance that will determine which team I end up on and whether I claim victory. Victory begins with thought work to prove my own self-doubts wrong. It’s about rising up against the very destructive demon I’ve created in my mind fostering potentially catastrophic negativity.
Chaos clouds clarity.
If I allow my mind or immediate world to be littered with chaotic thinking that doesn’t serve me well, I’m paralyzed towards progression. Clarity comes as I centralize my thoughts and the ensuing actions towards eternal truths.
What if I chose the Savior’s team? There have been times where I could have confidently stood on a makeshift line and rose up with confidence as He called on me to help Him. The call to hear Him and ensuing course seemed precisely clear.
What’s happening today?
Are my eyes looking down -worried He won’t call my name? Or have I assumed He won’t want me on His team…
Nearly 40 years ago as I sheepishly joined a team that I knew I had nothing to contribute to, I wondered about Coach’s words… “Prove them wrong…” I wanted to do just that. Grit, fierceness, and fearlessness all built confidence in my worth.
What about today?
Is Christ calling on me? Is He calling my name? What is it specifically He needs me to show up for today with courage and confidence?
Am I ready?- The truth is- it doesn’t matter if I’ve been lazy, disconnected or distracted… My Savior still calls my name to step up and allows me to stand beside Him. He invites me to be His teammate and recognizes my worth and abilities far more clearly than I ever will.
It begins with choosing to hear Him call my name. Whether I step up fearlessly with grit and determination choosing to hold onto hope is up to me.
Peanut Butter Frosted Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Sugar Cookies
1 cup soft butter
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cocoa
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, oil and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until well blended. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12+ min. Cool. Frost with Peanut Butter Frosting. Garnish as desired. Let set. Share!
Peanut Butter Frosting
¾ cup soft butter
¾ cup creamy peanut butter
2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of salt
3-4 Tablespoons milk
Cream butter and peanut butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Stir in powdered sugar. Add vanilla salt, and milk. Whip for 5 minutes. Spoon into Ziploc bag until ready to use.
Cookies and Christ 
I’m making these today! I’m sure (hoping) they will give me extra power to show up with courage and confidence to do what He needs me to do, right? 🤣
Thanks Jackie! You are so awesome. I love reading your stories and want to write something like these stories of my own for my family to learn from. Thanks for your example and motivation to do/be good & Christlike. 💛
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