so stupid

Me, that is. Yesterday afternoon while baby b. snoozed, the noisy boys and I experimented in the kitchen. I’ve been working on a few recipes for the Pillsbury bake-off. Don’t laugh at me—I love entering cooking contests, even though I never win anything. While waiting for my third batch of top-secret caramel apple buns to finish baking, I checked my email (my computer is in the kitchen). I read in a note from my Mom that she’d been in the hospital—again. Minutes later, my dear husband, lured by the scent of apples and cinnamon baking, came out of his work-at-home cave. Still preoccupied with my Mom’s health situation, I took a fresh batch of buns out of the oven while chatting with my husband about the bake-off and the sunny weather and our noisy boys, who were playing outside (hallelujah). And then I did something really stupid. Looking at the buns, I said, “Hmmm. Maybe I should have drizzled the caramel on after the buns were baked. What do you think?” as I reached my finger over and touched the scalding hot caramel.

“That’s really hot,” my husband helpfully commented as I ran to the sink for cold water on my already-blistering finger.

Why, why do I do things like this? I know better. As I nursed my wound, beating myself up for being an idiot, I got to thinking: I do the same thing with God. I’m easily distracted by difficulties and blessings. And, like Little Boy Blue over on Charity’s blog, I make stupid mistakes (and choices) without even thinking. If only the consequences were all as easy to deal with as a burned finger!