Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6: 1-4
I don’t make pie very often. The simple reason is so many other wonderful women in my family make pie and pie crust that I’ve never needed to. I did try to learn the art of making pie crust. My mother tried to teach me, multiple times, with crisco and cold water, use your hands, don’t over mix. My mother-in-law tried to show me the secret, use an egg and cooking oil. My step-mom talked me through her pie crust recipe, but my pie crust never really tasted good or stayed together to line a pan.
For years it was no big deal, I just had all of them provide pie and pie crust. My husband, a great lover of pie, was happy enough with this arrangement and our pie needs were filled. But life progresses and things happen, people move, and change, and grow old. “Oh no, I thought she was talking about pie,” you may be thinking, “not old age. I don’t want to hear about old age.”
I know. Nobody likes to talk about growing old unless they are discussing ways of living forever, exercises to make you look like you did thirty years ago, or diets that give you energy, thicker hair and skin with no wrinkles. If I had a miracle pill to offer you, a fountain of youth pill, this newsletter would have a million followers and I would be a millionaire.
While I don’t have a magic pill to keep you young, I do have truth to give you hope and joy, no matter what age you currently are. For those just born and those nearing the end, for those in perfect physical health and those who struggle to stand up, for those with eagle-eyes, security dog noses and elephant ears as well as those who can no longer see, hear or smell as they once did, there is good news.
“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46: 3-4
The prophet Isaiah is speaking to a specific people here, but in so doing he reminds all of us that God is great and powerful and loving. He created each of us. He carries us. He sustains us. No matter how old you are, even to your gray hairs, He will sustain and rescue you.
God is in the business of caring for people of all ages. He sustains us and carries us. That implies time is passing, growth is occurring, change is happening. We need to be sustained and carried; life will not always be easy, we will need help.
I am a pragmatist. I am willing to depend on others to make pie, and I expect I will need to depend on others as I age. What amazes me is the surprise with which people greet life change, and the lengths they go to in order to prevent life changes. While I’m not in any hurry to age any faster than I am, it is not a sin to grow old. It is not a mistake or an error, it is life. We can all dye our hair, go to the gym, eat less, have plastic surgery and take a zillion vitamins and supplements and every one of us will still die. How many of us will do it gracefully, allowing God to carry and sustain us?
I am a parent and a child and the realization that responsibility comes with both positions is not lost on me. Simultaneously attempting to honor my father(s) and mother(s) and not provoking my children and grandchildren leaves me breathless. The world has aged. Expectations have changed and not exasperating those in different generations is difficult. Difficult, but not impossible, as I allow God to sustain and carry me, even as He promises to carry and sustain those I love.
I am also a product of my culture. I was raised to be responsible, self-sufficient and hard-working. These are great ideals, but not entirely Biblical. At least the self-sufficient part. God’s design has always been for community. Husband and wife, families, the people of Israel, God Himself is trinity, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Children obey your parents, parents instruct your children, people stick together and follow God. Work with one another, depend on one another, help one another.
Most of the people I know are great at helping but not so good at depending! Allowing someone else to do the helping, laying down the responsibility and trusting someone else to do the job. We are all self-sufficient, competent, and completely at home with doing it ourselves; we need lessons in how to let go. Lessons in accepting the pie with dignity and grace, acknowledging that someone else can do something either better or just as well as we can and we don’t need to do it.
There are four new babies in my extended family. The parents are so excited and exhausted! They are doing everything for these little ones who depend on mom and dad for everything, but as each day passes loving parents pass responsibility on to the children as they allow them to grow up. Years will pass and suddenly it will be the parents turn to depend on the children. God’s design has always been for community. He promises to carry and sustain us, sometimes through each other.
My mom made the pie pictured above. In her high school days she won the Betty Crocker award for her baking and in her school teaching years she won a Pillsbury Pie award for her Peach Raspberry Pie. She continues to make pie for her family in her retirement years and it is a privilege to share her recipe with you.
Mom’s Pie Crust
- 2 cups Gold Medal Flour
- 3/4 cup crisco
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup water
Mix flour and salt together. Cut in Crisco with knife or pastry cutter until mixture looks like tiny crumbs. Stir in water. You may have to use your hands to mix well. If mixture is too dry add a little more water. Dough should be nice and pliable. Roll out on floured surface and transfer to pie pan. Makes two 8″ or 9″ crusts.
Peach Raspberry Pie
- 3 cups fresh, peeled and sliced peaches
- 1 1/2 cups red raspberries, washed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup Gold Medal flour
- 3 tsp butter
Mix together peaches and berries. Blend together sugar, flour and cinnamon and stir into fruit. Pour filling into a crust lined 9″ deep dish pie pan. Dot with butter. Place top crust over filling. Brush upper crust with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Cut three slits into upper crust to allow pie to breathe. Bake at 375* for 40-50 minutes until crust is lightly browned and filling is bubbling. Enjoy!
The initial recipe for this pie crust called for Robin Hood flour, a brand I have not seen in decades. My mom and I both use Gold Medal Flour now.