The Father's Daughter

I remember going to the bank with my mom once as a little girl. Standing in the line to be waited on was an older gentleman who looked like he had experienced a hard life. Even as an elementary age school girl, I could tell that life wasn't easy for this man. His clothes were dirty, his hair unkempt, his appearance dissheveled. I remember feeling sorry for him.

Fast foward thirty-plus years to today. As I drove out of a shopping area today, having bought craft supplies and eaten at a fast food place, I saw a woman holding a sign. "Single mom. Out of work. Please help. God bless you." Those weren't her exact words, but that's the general idea of what she held. I had just spent money on frivolous things, yet here she was dressed in a simple t-shirt, shorts and flip flops, standing by the side of the intersection as car after car drove by without stopping. I rolled down my window a bit and handed her some cash. I could hardly hear her as she said "thank you" and "God bless you" over and over, almost as if she were too ashamed to speak out loud. Then I drove away.

Fifteen minutes later I was calling my husband to vent about some poor customer service I had received. I was downright mad. Not just aggrevated. Mad. I felt justified in my anger.

On the way home, I drove by the same shopping center. She was still there. Standing in the 80 degree weather, full sun bearing down on her. No shade. No respite. I continued driving. But then my heart nudged me. "She's going to get sun-burned." " She's thirsty." "How humiliating to have to stand there and hold a sign, begging." My heart wouldn't let me keep driving. I turned around and drove to a store in the shopping center near her, and bought some sunscreen, water, and snacks. When I gave them to her, I told her I had stopped earlier and had worried about her when I drove away. I wanted her to have these things. As I drove away, I saw her step back from the road, turn aside, and wipe her eyes.

As I drove home, I thought to myself, "What if that were my daughter in 25 years? What if my sweet child ran into hard times and couldn't provide for her family? What if she had no one to turn to for help?" Then an even greater thought came to my mind and heart....that woman IS someone's daughter. She is God's daughter. How many times have I driven by someone needing help? How many times have I rushed away from the check-out at a store to get home to my stuff, my duties? How many times have I gotten impatient driving down the road and honked at someone because I'm in a hurry and they aren't helping me get where I need to be by driving slowly? We are surrounded every day by the children of God. Some are in obvious need of help...like the lady today. Some are less obvious. Sometimes you have to look deep into their eyes to see the need. Sometimes they won't look you directly in the eye because it hurts too much....maybe they look just slightly to the side of your face instead. Too often I judge and think, she's not trying hard enough. She could get a job if she really wanted to. But then I thought, you know what? It's not my place to judge. That's God's job. My place is to love. Like Jesus loved when he walked this earth. My place is to love, no questions asked. Instead of focusing on my anger or frustration, I am called to love. Every day I am surrounded by his children. What a joy to be able to help someone if even just for today. What a joy.

Guinness Irish Beef Stew

This past Saturday, I made a new dish for dinner that I have to admit was amazingly good. My sweet Cameron especially loved it. Even if you're like me and don't enjoy the taste of beer, the flavors in this dish are so deep and complex that your mouth just says, "Yum!"

Guinness Irish Beef Stew

2 Tb. olive oil
2 lb. beef shoulder roast, cut into thin slices
1 onion, chopped
2 leeks, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
2 celery sticks, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ¼ cups well-reduced beef stock
2/3 cup stout Guinness
¼ cup butter
6 oz. thick-sliced bacon, chopped
8 oz. mini portabella mushrooms, sliced
3 oz. shallots, peeled and cut in half
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ bag frozen carrots/peas

1.       Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven and fry the meat, in batches, for a few minutes until evenly browned. Transfer to a plate. Saute the onion, leeks, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes in the pan.

2.       Add the meat back to dutch oven with the vegetables, and add the garlic. Pour in the stock and Guinness and stir well. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 1 ½ hours.

3.       Remove the meat from the pan and strain the cooking liquid and reserve. Discard the vegetables.

4.       Clean the pan. Then in the same pan, sauté the bacon, mushrooms and shallots in the butter for 5-10 minutes. When the vegetables are tender, sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, over low heat for 2-3 minutes, then slowly blend in the cooking liquid, and cook, stirring, until it thickens.

5.       Tear/chop meat into small pieces. Return the meat to the pan. Stir in carrots and peas. Reheat, stirring until well combined. Serve with mashed potatoes.