Because our generous neighbour continually shared the bounty from her pear tree, I had to come up with ways of using the things. You can only eat so many pears.

Anyway, I found a recipe for pear mincemeat and made it every summer when the pears arrived. Last year, someone gave us a half-dozen pears, and mincemeat memories reared in my head.

Of course, I had to rework the recipe, because the original called for baskets full of fruit. Then, I found that I didn't have some of the ingredients. I figured that I needed a cup of raisins, a quarter of a cup of lemon juice, one cup each of apple and orange juice, a couple of cups of sugar replacement, and assorted spices.

Well, I ended up buying a bag of raisins, a quart each of the juices, and a bottle of cloves. The whole mess boiled down to one pie filling that cost me only about $20.00 and three hours' stirring time. It didn't taste that great either. (I can buy a jar of mincemeat for $4.99).

Don't we all get carried away by grandiose schemes and memories into mayhem? We plan great plans and dream great dreams only to discover that the whole thing was a waste of time and effort.

Proverbs 16:9 – A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. (NKJV)

Luke 14:28 – For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it? (AMP)

What are we jumping into today? Have we counted the cost, not only in dollars but in health, relationships, and results?

Prayer: Lord, stop us in our tracks when we scheme and plan contrary to Your plans and Your results. Amen.

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About the author:

Brenda Wood <brenda.w@nextcom.ca>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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