The Crumpled Metal That Used To Be the Family Car…

“…for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.”
Isaiah 49:13

Dad quietly walked around the car I had wrecked while my family was away on a trip. I opted out of the family vacation to Maine, blaming my inability to get days off from my part-time job.

He somberly counted 1..2…3…

I nervously wondered if when he got to a certain number he would begin atypically exploding at me telling me how irresponsible I had been…

He kept counting. No change in tone or volume…4..5…6…

I silently wondered what he was counting as he slowly circled the crumpled metal that used to be the family car.

He stopped at 8 with a bit of hesitation. I glanced up from the hole my stare was creating in the street in front of our home. 

Our eyes met. There was no rage, or disappointment looking back at me. I felt safe. 

“8 what?” I sheepishly asked…

“8 panels…I believe you got all of them…”

I still didn’t understand. My mind raced as I grasped to understand the message Dad was communicating…He then patiently explained to me what a panel on a car was…
I had rolled down a hill…
Literally…
So I guess I wasn’t surprised I had “…got them all…”

He put his arm around me and we walked back inside. 

I didn’t get the importance of his response until I was a parent. I failed plenty of days- reacting and talking without patiently responding. But sometimes as a huge bowl of freshly poured cereal with a generous amount of milk tipped onto the counter, striking every rung of the bar stool on the descent concluding with a splash seemingly reaching every far crack and cranny of my cupboards and grouted tile…

I would remember…

There were 8 panels… and I “got them all.”

It’s exactly how my Savior meets and loves me.  Truths and consequences of mistakes are real, but the Savior’s love and grace work for them all.

-JC

Toasted Coconut Cookies

½ cup soft butter
½ cup buttered flavored Crisco
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons coconut extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups toasted coconut

Cream butter, Crisco, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and coconut extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Gently stir in toasted coconut. Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough.  Gently roll and flatten slightly.
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.)
Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ min.
Garnish if desired with Coconut Glaze and sprinkle with Toasted Coconut.
Let set! Share!

Coconut Glaze
⅓ cup coconut milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
Dash of salt

Blend all ingredients until smooth.