{Contact_First_Name},
One of my favorite things about my dad was how he ate breakfast, especially his signature egg dish.
Preparation was elaborate and chaotic. First there was a lot of vigorous chopping: onions and green pepper, maybe celery. They went into the skillet to cook first while he attacked the eggs. Not content to beat them by hand, Dad would bring out the electric mixer to whip eggs into full froth and pour over the softened vegetables.
The result was not to be an omelet in the traditional sense; it was never flipped or folded. Instead, it cooked in an even layer, with the pan lid over the top and a towel to encourage the top to set (hopefully) before the bottom burned completely. When it was done, it was sliced in wedges like a pizza and served up with cheese and salsa.
Other dishes on Dad’s full breakfast table included grits, toast and homemade jam, a fresh smoothie, fruit salad and orange juice.
Then, immediately after breakfast, with the kitchen still a total mess, my dad would start with his morning readings. Dad was a retired Lutheran pastor and kept read from a set of books that contain several pages of scripture for every day of the year. He also had a prayer book with 31 days of morning and evening prayers, which he reread month after month, plus a number of other devotional and inspirational books in the rotation over the years.
His after-breakfast reading was as diverse, free-spirited and nutritious as his food.
At my Dad’s funeral this week, a common theme in the remembrances was how encouraging he was. He loved meeting people and hearing their stories. He loved reconnecting with friends and family. He seemed to listen for projects, hopes, and ideas that we had – or struggles that were weighing us down.
Then, from some reservoir of his own hope and helpfulness, Dad would share words that acknowledged the importance of the situation, struggle or story. He told us that we weren’t alone facing such things. He pointed out our strengths and skills, and celebrated accomplishments small and large.
I believe Dad’s superpower of encouragement came from his breakfast reading. On a daily basis he made sure he was being encouraged by scripture and by wisdom old and new. It fed him, so he could feed others.
I don’t know about you, but I am not an 81-year-old retired person so I don’t have this much time to make elaborate breakfasts and read for an hour every morning.
But living in Dad’s legacy, I’m preparing both my body and my soul for the day ahead more deliberately. That means making sure there’s granola, yogurt and fruit in the fridge (my preferred breakfast) and a few sources of encouraging reading ready at the table.
How do you feed your dreams, passions, and ideas on a daily basis? Books and devotional studies aren’t for everyone. Maybe it’s an email newsletter or a podcast.
However you get it, make a plan to use what you’ve learned to encourage someone else. Check in with a person in our community who could use some encouragement. Any working woman among us would surely appreciate it, including me!