Last week some close relatives were having a difficult time, not helped by broken sleep. Professional care was on hand, but I wanted to do something a bit more personal. As I was “prayer-mulling”what to do, the idea “popped into my head” of something to bring a smile, tempt the appetite and add a touch of summery deliciousness. This was the perfect time to bake some scones! I hadn’t baked for a while, so I was looking forward to floury hands again.
Realising I needed more butter and eggs, off I went to the grocery shop. My trolley dash was almost complete when a member of staff came by who recognised me from a walking group we had shared many years ago. I’ll call her “Chloe”. We had a general catch up on family news and Chloe mentioned that, after a recent stressful time, she had managed to get a few days away in the West Country. She had really enjoyed it but, on the way home, realised she hadn’t had the opportunity to indulge in one of the famous local delicacies of that region – a cream tea! (For anyone not familiar with a cream tea, it is not just a cup of tea/coffee, but one accompanied by freshly made, split scones with jam and clotted cream on them.
Chloe was now very keen to make up for this omission, but needed the help of a scone-maker. There was apparently only one person she would entrust with that job – yup, you guessed it! Long story short, I used to bake scones several years ago for a local coffee shop and Chloe must have remembered my scones from there. She then said “I don’t know if you’ll be making scones again any time soon (!) but I would do anything to have one or two, if you don’t mind”.
I showed her the butter and eggs I had just put in the trolley and explained that scone-making was the very reason I had come to the shop today! This wonderful Divine timing was something I commented on when I messaged Chloe after delivering the scones. She had loved her cream tea! She also told me that she had taken a couple of the scones to the family member having a tough time and had repeated my promise to this loved one that I would be praying for them. This had really moved and encouraged them. Now Chloe AND her relative were receiving Jesus ministry through the scones!! I could not have imagined that a simple batch of scones could re-establish contact with an old friend, extend it further to her family and provide an avenue of hope and comfort to both in such a timely, yummy way!
The scone ministry was not yet finished, however! Nearing home, I came across a local resident walking slowly who told me they were about to have a medical procedure that afternoon. Although called a “routine procedure”, it is certainly not without risk. This person had already gone through the same procedure a few months earlier. Unfortunately, a bad dose of Covid had reversed all the good effect of it and this friend was now back to square one. They admitted to feeling low about it all and just longing to be back to full health, strength and energy again. I didn’t sense this was time to jump in and offer to pray there and then, but I did promise I would be praying through the afternoon for the complete success of the procedure and for their full recovery. Although not a believer as far as I know, this resident was genuinely thankful for this offer of prayer and for the opportunity to share how they were really feeling.
Discovering the friend would be back home by the next day,, I had a strong “green light” to bake a bigger batch of scones to take some round to this second household. First, I took round a card containing some encouragements I felt Jesus downloaded prophetically for the family member imminently facing surgery. A day later came the scones! I have since met two different members of that family, one just today, who could not have been more grateful for the scones and the encouragement card, saying how much the words had meant to their loved one as they faced the anxiety of surgery. Once again, I could not have imagined what the baking of scones would lead to, and how it would have impact on several family members. Our friend is also now recovering very well! after a successful procedure. ! Thank you Jesus!
So to the final – and original – recipients of the scones. Our own family members in need. By now I had boxed up and delivered the other two boxes, both with 6 scones each. Our relatives in question are just two in number, but I felt I needed to put in all the remaining scones, which made a box of five. I lined the box with a pretty napkin of summer colours and tied it around with curling ribbon. Another family member wanted to go and visit these relatives, so volunteered to take the scones over to them. What they did not know, was that another couple of family members had also turned up to visit our relatives on the same afternoon. They were all surprised and delighted to have fresh scones warm from the oven to eat! And the number of scones perfectly matched the number of people present.
Father God, You are such a logistical genius with the best time management in the whole universe! You take a small thing and multiply it into something much, much bigger. Best of all, you love us so much, and are eager for every single person to “taste and see that God is good”. - sometimes through scones! Praise You.!