Air, Water, and Sugar!

This is campfire season! September 22nd was the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall. It is also the season of Smore’s! This gram cracker sandwich, made with a Hershey’s chocolate bar and marshmallow, is a favorite anytime of the year! Did you know that Americans consume 90 million pounds of marshmallows annually? That may seem to be a staggering statistic for many, but  I’m not surprised! Some of us think that marshmallows make everything  taste just a little bit better. It’s amazing that something made so simply from air, water, and sugar could be so delicious!

A Simple Sugary Sandwich!

I like any flavored Jello with mini marshmallows added. In the candy category I’ll eat: Toasted Coconut Covered Marshmallows, Moon Pies, Circus Peanuts, Hostess Snoball cakes, Fluff in homemade fudge, an occasional Peeps at holiday times, and won’t pass up Chocolate covered marshmallow Santas and Easter bunnies! I haven’t tried plant-based Dandies (Kosher, Vegan), but I’m game! However, my all-time favorite candy with marshmallows (and I don’t get them often anymore!) is the Mallo Cup! 😊

I grew up with many words mispronounced or truncated in spelling: punkin for pumpkin, giblet as the “g” sound in gravy ( rather than ji-bluhts), battree for battery, and par for power. So, imagine my surprise to note that the word "marshmallow" is not spelled "marshmellow!" In reading around the subject, I learned that the correct spelling is derived from the name of the plant used to make the confection.

Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, the herbaceous perennial marshmallow plant, Althaea officinalis, has been  used to make a soft, sweet candy. The name "marshmallow" comes from the plant's name, not from the sound of the word. The spelling "marshmallow" has become the accepted way to spell the name of this sugary treat. However, the proper pronunciation ends in “mellow!” I’m glad to know I got this one right!

I was also curious about the use of the word marshmallow as an expression of weakness. Here was a sample sentence reflecting that use: “The situation required strength, but I was nothing more than a marshmallow!” This reminded me of a Bible word that has been misinterpreted to mean someone who is weak. The word “meek” that Jesus used in the Beatitudes has been much aligned!

Rather than weakness, meekness is “strength under control” like the strength of a mighty stallion that’s bridled and under the control of the rider! Moses was regarded as meek above all men on earth (Numbers 12:3) and Jesus described Himself as meek and gentle! (Matthew 11:29). These two are examples in biblical history of strength, self-control, and humility! The Bible makes this promise: “What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you! For you will inherit the earth!” (Matthew 5:5, The Passion Translation).

Go easy on the many tempting sugary confections of this season! But let’s completely lean into the gentle, humble, and Christlike lifestyle that God blesses!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,

active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com 
© 2018-2024. All rights reserved. Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Rescue Story!

Image
It is estimated that between sixty and a hundred million homeless cats live in the U.S. (peta.org). Many of them have been abandoned. Some will be sheltered for a time. A few will be fortunate enough to be rescued. A male cat named Trauma is one of the lucky ones! A cat DNA would be required (and yes, there is such a thing!) to definitively identify his breed. He is thought to be a smaller version of the Maine Coon which is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. Trauma: Healthy and Happy! Trauma’s rescue story began with a woman who worked as a Trail Crew guide for the United States Forest  Service. Marty (not her real name) made a career of planning hiking trips for adventurous individuals. This put her in peak physical condition as she was often required to carry heavy gear as a part of her job. Fifteen years ago, Marty was out in the great outdoors when she happened upon a mangy cat that was obviously homeless and in great physical and probable psychological distress!
Read more

"Pray and Move Your Feet!"

Image
There is an old West African proverb: “When you pray, move your feet.” I have said something similar in a little different way: “Be careful in your praying. You may be (and often are!) the answer to your own prayer.” Others see this almost as a command to “Put feet to your prayers!” What do we mean by these various sayings? Prayer is not just an important spiritual discipline for the Christian, it often leads to an “in the flesh” response and connection between the pray-er and the prayer request. Prayer and Action! pngimg.com While prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines, this doesn't mean it is just an academic, theoretical or forensic exercise! I have heard it said, "God inhabits the praises of His people." This suggests that it blesses God to hear the praise of His people in prayer. I believe that the Lord gets an even greater blessing when our praying is “incarnated” in devotion, commitment and service for Him. Our best efforts at praying involve action plans to
Read more

Sayings That Shape Us!

Image
Joseph D. Keppler December 9, 1929 - February 14, 2024 (I shared the following eulogy at my Dad's funeral, February 19, 2024).  I have so many wonderful memories from growing up with my parents. I say “growing up” because it became clear when I started grade school and heard one of my peers exclaim, “Your parents are so young!” And they were! Mom and Dad eloped on June 10, 1950, and had to go all the way to Corinth, Mississippi to get a justice of the peace who would marry a 16-year-old girl to a 20-year-old sailor, who after four years of active duty, was now in the Naval reserves! That sailor and his gal would become dad and mom, grandpa and grandma, to this great family. Mike, Grandpa, and Matt "A quick pic between oil changes!" I learned so much from dad who had married young, took on a family of four kiddos, and started his own business in those first fourteen years of marriage. Growing up in a family business taught me many lessons for sure! Watching dad and mom in
Read more