INTRODUCTION:

To ‘zest’ a lemon (for a spike in flavor), requires a thorough pre-wash, then scraping away (grating) on surface layers of the peel.

A good cook is careful to capture the citrus essence of flavor, without cutting into the bitter pith, or piercing the fruit.

Just the right amount of ‘zest’ (peeled, and shredded), adds culinary magic. It’s all for a good cause, but I wonder if the Lemon would understand that – during the process?

OK, let’s apply this analogy to emotional experience, and consider the ‘fruit of the spirit’

          “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

THE PROBLEM:

At times we may feel so low-down – we might have to look up, just to glimpse the bottom of our particular well of grief. In those moments it’s hard to even imagine joy – and yet scripture dictates our need to … ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’

It’s not always easy – but it is always good, and it does add zest to our lives.  So how, exactly, can we do that? Here’s one strategy …

SOLUTIONS:

First we need a thorough pre-wash, gained by reading God’s word and talking things over with Him. This doesn’t require an exhaustive study’ – you could even randomly open, and read a bible promise book or a brief devotional aid. Here’s a sample from Titus 3:5

“He saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”.

We can ask for this washing and regeneration, any time, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next we need to scrape away some of the surface peel. The finest emotional tools include the power of thanks and praise – even when (or especially when) we don’t feel like it.

We may need to go deeper than the surface of our experience to find gratitude (without digging too deeply or over-analyzing). For example: If I can’t think of anything praise-worthy in this moment – can I identify one thing that blesses me by its absence? If I don’t feel strength or energy – can I be grateful for the absence of excruciating pain? We can learn to play the ‘Glad’ game.

It takes deliberate, hard work to develop this habit – but I promise it can change and enhance the flavor of life.

Use caution as you peel through the ‘stuff’ of emotions. Don’t torture an area with gouging, or get ‘stuck’ on guilt or regrets of the past. Let go and trust the Master, who knows exactly how much peeling needs to be done.

CONCLUSION:

Scrape, grate, slice, and shred – these are not ‘comfort’ words, but those actions, in the hands of a Master Chef, lead to delicious results.

I believe God knows every detail of my past, present, and future life. He has a recipe in mind – and if it doesn’t seem sweet to me at times, He may not be finished yet. I might need a bit more ‘zest’.

To be exuberant is to have zest – which spikes the flavors in our own lives … and perhaps adds sweetness for those around us too. Bon Appetite !

Blessings, Love, and Laughter,

Marge

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Photo by Cristina Anne Costello on Unsplash