Labors of Love and Lots of frosting . . .

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”       John 15: 12-13

Red hearts, doilies, flowers and chocolates line store shelves for the next week. Moms will be frantically looking for valentine’s for school parties, young men will be seeking roses and perfume and old men will look across the room and say, “you know I love you, honey.” February, synonymous with cold weather, red lacy negliges and message sweet tarts that say ‘be mine’. Modern expressions of love.

At least that’s what is bought and sold. Oh, February is synonymous with cold weather and Valentine’s Day, and there’s nothing wrong with sweets and treats to show love, but real love does not melt like chocolate or wilt like flowers. It is not found at Wal-Mart, Amazon or Aerie. Love exists in those willing to wait with kindness. Love does not long for the Valentine someone else got or show off their two dozen roses. Love is not dismal on Valentine’s or any other day, does not begrudge the happiness of others and does not feel triumphant at another’s misfortune. Love can sometimes be hard work.

I remember creating hand made Valentine’s for friends and family. It took time and effort and artistry, such as I could manage. It took doilies and lace and ribbon and envelopes and stamps. It took thought, what to say on each card that meant more than ‘be mine’ and ‘too cool’. It gave me pause to think on what each person meant in my life. I knew each card would bring a smile to my beloved grandparents. It reminded me of the effort all those people had put into my life over the years. Love is not something put on a shelf for a few weeks before February 14th.

Several years ago I found a recipe for Sour Cream Sugar Cookies with Double Frosting. The cookies were works of art, heart shaped, base frosted, then topped with intricate lace designed piping. The cookie itself does not taste amazing, it is only with the frosting that the flavor pops, sweetness melting in your mouth. You can flavor these with vanilla or almond or lemon/orange, whatever your sweethearts desire, but be aware they will take you time. They will be your labor of love, your offering of time and effort to show those you love what they mean to you. To let them see that they are worth your time, they are worth all the extra effort.

Jesus commanded his followers to love one another as he had loved them. I don’t know about you, but I am his follower. That commandment is for me and it is not easy. It is not easy to lay down my life–my wants, my desires, my laziness, my agenda, my last cookie, my place in line, my dreams and goals, my money–for the others in my world. Even for those I know and love, much less acquaintances and strangers, yet Jesus says to love one another like he did. And he gave everything.

Sometimes its easier to think of giving EVERYTHING than to bother with the small things, but this just prevents me from doing what I know to do, and what I can do. I don’t have to literally die, I just have to love; tangibly, routinely, persistently, even when it is hard.

So I give you a couple choices this February, baking and card making. Both are doable, just time consuming. Both will cost you, a few supplies from the store. Both will make others smile and know that they are loved. Deeply.

For card making, find some paper, anything from copy paper to card stock to beautiful paper crafting sheets. Use your imagination and gather doilies, lace, ribbons, stickers, paper punches, scraps of fabric or old cards you cut up. Decide on funny or serious, find words–use famous quotes from Scripture and Shakespeare. Write poems, roses are red, you know the rest! Let your artistry and sentiment share love and joy with those around you. And if there are any young people around you, have them join in the fun. Create together.

For baking, you will need a heart shaped cookie cutter at least 3-4 inches, food coloring, decorator tips and two days. One day for baking the cookies and another one for frosting them. The cookies need to be fully cooled for the frosting to take hold. You will need to make at least two colors of frosting, I usually make white and pink. Use one color to base frost the cookie, then use the other to turn the cookie into a Valentine. Again, if you have young people around, let them join in the fun and learn the value of saying I love you with time and effort.

Sour Cream Double Frosted Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or flavoring of your choice)
• 4 cups Gold Medal flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

            Frosting

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 9 cups confectionary sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (or flavoring of your choice)
• 2/3 to 3/4 cup 2% milk
• food coloring

Directions

• 1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
• 2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped cookie cutter.
• 3. Place 1 in. apart on baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until set. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
• 4. For frosting, in a large bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Beat in confectionary sugar and vanilla. Add enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Tint with food coloring.
• Base frost cookies, then using writing decorator tip, create Valentine’s with frosting. Make lines diagonally one way across the cookie, then in the opposite direction to plaid the cookie. Write the name of the recipient in the center of the cookie, then create vines around the edges. Write Bible verses or references in the center. Use the tip to create polka dots or paisleys.