Feast of Writing Flavors by Tina Yeager

Feast of Writing Flavors

by Tina Yeager

 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”

(Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

 

I love the scent of simmering cranberries. The heat cures their best flavors until luscious juice-steam bursts forth. The bubbling sauce cuddles around walnuts and orange zest, lifting their aromas to bless the senses of all who enter my kitchen. Pumpkin and fresh sliced apple nestle into my homemade pie crusts to promise delicious flavors of their own. Our outdoor smoker wafts hints into the house in the hours to come, keeping us all mindful of the savory dish on its way.

I adore the smells and spices of the season. Yet none of my favorite treats arrive on the table alone. Each one offers a special form of nourishment and delight. And all require extensive preparation beforehand.

As a writer, I’ve glanced at the final plating of my fellow authors and wondered why my work comes out in smaller portions or with prose of a different flavor. Sometimes the other professionals seemed to nourish more people and deliver their courses with less effort. Over years of gathering at word-feasts, the Lord has taught me that he prepares each of us in unique ways for specific purposes. Our incomparable head chef invented our individual dishes to complement one another rather than compare. He designed our lives as celebratory gatherings so we can serve his words to our Christ-family. Our collective writing offers a bouquet of scents like an ongoing holiday, where we all nourish and uplift those who meet us.

Those of us who sweat over hickory-smoked books need not fret about our work. Those of us who knead the dough of articles or stir cinnamon into sweet romances must not compare our offerings to those of other writers. Instead, we can celebrate our ongoing holy-day and thank the chef who designed scrumptious blessings in advance for us to share.

 

Father, thank you for creating me to nourish souls. May your Holy Spirit remind me that you’ve already prepared my work so I’m not tempted to feel overwhelmed. Guide my heart to align with yours and my hands to bless others according to your plan. Amen.

 

 

 

Award-winning author, speaker, and life coach, Tina hosts the Flourish-Meant podcast a YouTube channel, and the Flourish Today radio show. She serves on the marketing team for STRUCK the Series Streaming TV show and as Director of Traditional Groups with Word Weavers International. Look for her books, Beautiful Warrior (Iron Stream Media) and Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose (Bold Vision Books). To connect with her, visit tinayeager.com.