Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
March has arrived! We are two months into the new year, time to reevaluate those New Year’s Resolutions. Whether yours included pounds coming off or exercise coming in, more time reading or less time on the phone, more intentional time with family or friends or reaching out to not yet friends, often March marks the end of those intentions and the return to old habits.
Perhaps I only bring it up because this year, unlike other years, I am still resolved. This year I made a resolution that included a friend, a confidante, a partner. He’s actually my husband, and together we decided to exercise. It’s not as if I haven’t tried it before, but establishing this pattern as a team has enabled us to follow through on our goal.
Perhaps the beauty of this year’s resolution was that it was not all about me, but all about us. All about our family, our community. How can we work together? How can we be healthier and thus more of a blessing to others? How can we get out of our old, unhealthy routine and make room for better patterns and habits?
We chose a gym and a plan that would only allow us to go work out together. Not that we don’t like spending time together, but we needed a fence around our hectic schedules, a safety net to keep us from undermining our own resolution. We both over schedule and overcommit, promising the world to others and forsaking the commitment of a lifetime of marriage. We are committed to each other, who needs actual time together, right?
As it turns out, we do. I cannot emphasize enough the blessing gym time has become. We ride to the gym together, just the two of us. We work out, cool down, and ride home together. Or we run errands, together. We accomplish things together that we have had a chance to discuss in the car. This may not be a newsflash for many of you, but it has been for me, planning intentional time with the one you love revolutionizes the relationship.
39 years ago I made a promise to have and to hold my husband for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part. Yes, we used traditional vows. In a sense we made a resolution that for the rest of our lives we would support and care for one another. It was not a yearly resolution, it is a daily one.
Our time at the gym, this year’s resolution, has reminded me not to neglect my vow of loving my husband well every day, the promise of a lifetime. A promise, vow, or resolution often fails because of neglect. Neglecting to make it a priority. Neglecting to set new boundaries or habits that will ensure success. Neglecting to count the cost before you make the promise. Neglecting to keep the promise fresh, in your mind, something important each and every day; neglecting to keep it a priority even when life gets hectic and hard and all you long for are your old bad habits.
You may not be married, but I pray that you have a friend. Someone who can help lift you up when you are down, someone who can encourage you to keep going, someone who can be honest with you when you need the truth. As you set goals or make promises to others or to yourself, bounce them off your friend, your confidante, your partner. God made us to exist in community. Ask God to help you find a faithful friend who will team up with you to help you succeed in changing old bad habits into better, healthier ways of life. Two are better than one, because if one falls or fails, the other can help him back up.
Since my resolution, our resolution, was to work out and get healthier, and, yes, to shed a few pounds, it seemed ironic yet appropriate to share an old, favorite recipe for pound cake. This recipe was shared with me many years ago by a friend in Charleston, SC. I believe it was a family heirloom recipe and her willingness to share it touched my heart. I never make this pound cake without thinking of Linda Matthews.
Pound Cake
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup crisco
- 3 cups sugar
- 5 eggs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3 cups Gold Medal Flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp lemon extract
Cream crisco, butter and sugar in a stand mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating for 5 minutes after each egg. When Linda first gave me this recipe, she insisted that it be mixed by hand. While this is great for working out and building muscles! it is really not necessary. The stand mixer does a great job. Add salt and baking powder and mix. Add the flour and milk a little at a time, alternating to avoid clumping.
Beat for 5 additional minutes. Batter should be completely smooth. Pour into well-greased Bundt pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check to make sure the top is not scorching, may cover loosely with aluminum foil if scorching occurs. Let cool for 20-25 minutes before turning out of the pan
This cake can be served as is and is delicious! I can also be glazed with a light lemon glaze. I often serve it covered with berries or sliced peaches and whipped cream.