Friday, March 9, 2007

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!

4 comments:

Craver Vii said...

Ha! Ha! Ha! Now, you may not understand this, but that caramel is gonna be hot... OUCH!! "Here's your sign."

Lara said...

Okay, now it's my turn to say, "you're amazing!". I'm impressed! Tinkering and creating in the kitchen is sooo beyond me. I cook to keep my family alive.

You're not the only one who does dumb things in the kitchen. I often tap the bottom of a pan as I take it off the stove to see if it has cooled (quite brainy of me, huh?). Except once the fire was still lit under that (empty) pan. Boy did that hurt!!

Hope it heals quick.

spaghettipie said...

My husband and I have a standing joke that I burn myself at least once a week (although I've been much better lately). I always feel so stupid when I do it, too. Like taking a hot dish out of the oven and then deciding to move it somewhere else and forgetting to use a potholder...ouch.

I think it is easy for the devil to get us on those little things, as opposed to great big things. But it makes it no less frustrating for us when it happens!

Anonymous said...

You know, I can't tell you how many times I've taken something out of the oven, closed the oven door, taken off the oven mit, then immediately grabbed the pan to move it. Why? Why?

You're right though. Burnt fingers is nothing compared to a hard heart. Oh how I want to learn from my mistakes.