“Art and caring, skill and memory, comfort and nurture, faith and love — it’s all intertwined. Cooking (baking, in this case) matters because people matter. Feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger are signposts of the Christian life. There are countless opportunities and ways to live these out, but learning to cook (bake) is a good place to start.” 

— An excerpt from the book, “Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matters So Much,” by Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth

I was blessed to long ago work for the above authors as a young, newly married gal living in Nashville, TN. Andi taught me a lot about what it looks like to serve others, usher in hospitality and love people well. I was also blessed with a mom who showed love and care through her baking. She never went to the dentist, the dry cleaners, the hair dresser and certainly friends houses, without some form of a home baked goody. I think it’s safe to say it was one of her God given gifts.

As a little girl I would wait with great anticipation for my favorite Christmas treat made by my mom…Almond Shortbread Cookies. The crinkly edges that formed from pressing the dough ball down, the light coating of granulated sugar and then the red and green sprinkles that added a bit of joy and wonder. These were the special, magical touches that I’d dream about and wait for each December as a young child. The cookies served as a “marker” if you will, of the joy and anticipation of the season.

Much is rooted in the traditions we practice and honor year after year during this month. Advent by definition marks the season of preparing, waiting and anticipating the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We mark this time with candles, calendars, wreaths, songs, scriptures and yes, sometimes even with special cookies. Each week brings a new focus — hope, peace, joy and love — markers of the One who came to save the world. May these markers of Christ blanket our world and us, as we anticipate His coming. 

Whatever traditions you practice as we wait, I pray this season finds you filled with great excitement for the day the whole world was forever changed by the arrival of a little baby boy.

Almond Cookie Recipe