Holy Fruitcake!
by Victoria Sewell
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9, NIV).
During my childhood, Christmas meant caroling, trimming trees, and Grandma Teeny’s Whiskey-Soaked Fruitcake.
When we entered my grandmother’s house, we could expect to hear a radio preacher’s shrill, lyrical voice. “Repent, you sinners. Do you want to know Jesus?”
Every time, the old-school delivery and message sent a shudder of fright through me. We referred to this preaching style as fire insurance. Only one thing could out-intimidate the radio Baptist—my five-foot, ninety-pound grandmother.
When I turned thirteen, I was allowed to play a small role in the honored tradition of packaging her famous fruitcake. This holiday treat, laden with fruit and nuts and wrapped in whiskey-soaked cheesecloth, lay in cold storage in her attic. Pulling down the collapsible ladder, she deftly climbed up. My mom motioned me over to take her position at the bottom of the ladder. My heart leaped with anticipation.
When Grandma Teeny passed down the first one, I reached up with my skinny arms and took the round cake. Then, the unimaginable happened. I wasn’t prepared for the weight. Despite my best efforts to control the burden of fruit, nuts, dense flour, and whiskey while I balanced on the wooden ladder, it broke in half.
My mom gasped and my grandmother gave me a scowl that could have melted metal. Mom quickly grabbed the ruined cake and I retreated to the living room. I worried that I’d be spanked, gutted, or excommunicated from the family. I assumed my fruitcake gifts had ended forever.
Our God offers us unconditional love. His grace is sufficient to cover a multitude of sins, mishaps, and flaws. As a writer, I have composed unworthy pieces. Rather than allowing discouragement to end my participation as a writer in God’s family, I asked for forgiveness and started again.
Like growing up, writing requires a learning process soaked with grace. The Lord can transform our messy steps into blessings. He may help us use our own “broken fruitcake” experiences in the words we share to encourage others.
I was as sorry as I could be about the fruitcake. My grandmother didn’t disown me. My mom eventually forgave me. And I did get fruitcakes each Christmas, though I swear mine were slightly smaller.
God, I thank you for grace. The undeserved gift of favor and unconditional love brings peace when I don’t feel competent to complete the task you have given me. Amen.
Victoria Jon Sewell and her husband, Byron, co-authored and illustrated Sun-hee’s Adventures Under the Land of Morning Calm. Members of the Lewis Carroll Society, they were nationally recognized by the Wall Street Journal in 2015 for their collection at the Alice 150 celebration. Victoria worked with the founder of the Speak Easy Method of writing and is a Word Weavers member in Tampa, Florida.
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1 Comment
I love this. So vivid! Very encouraging.
Thanks for sharing.