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Pressurized

13/5/2016

2 Comments

 
Vava beans.

That’s what our boys used to call the gift we periodically received years ago from our neighbor, a Brazilian grandma. She asked to be called Vava and the beans she cooked were delicious.

When the kids were little Vava taught me how to make her recipe. It’s simple. Place dried pinto beans, water, salt and garlic into a pressure cooker for 30 minutes and presto.

But I’ve never made them.

Part of my negligence can be blamed on not owning a pressure cooker. But she offered to loan me hers so it’s not just that. The truth is, those pots terrify me.

Recently I confessed my fear to a friend and stated that my irrational aversion comes from my childhood. One poignant memory shaped my attitude and squelched my bean-making future.

I was standing in my grandmother’s kitchen as a pre-schooler watching her snap the lid on her cooker and crank the heat. Within minutes the escape valve began to rattle and steam hissed wildly. My eyes grew wide and with a twinkle Grandma declared, “It’s going to blow! You better run and hide!”

I didn’t wait to see if she was joking.

After hearing my account, my friend looked at me and said, “Shelaine, you’re almost 51 years old. It’s time to face that fear!” I’ve been pondering her admonition.

It’s true. I rarely turn on the news to hear of mayhem and devastation from pressure cookers. As an adult I can rationally consider safe use of a kitchen aid.

But the fear was real, planted in my child brain, even if unintended by grandma.

And the responsibility to address that angst is mine. As a grown-up, I can remind myself that feelings are often not the facts. I choose to ask questions to challenge long-held fears like, “Where is the evidence to support my belief?” and “Do other people experience similar responses?” and most importantly, “God, how do you see this situation?”

I’ve run my pressure cooker avoidance through these queries and concluded it’s time to live on the edge. Good thing. I received one from my kids for Mother’s Day.

With love and gratitude,
Shelaine

PS I wrote this piece before I received the gift. 

© 2016
2 Comments
Rosabelle S. Birch
13/5/2016 09:40:32 am

OH MY GOODNESS! That is too funny! Your kids have finally checkmated your bean procrastination :) Great questions around feelings and confronting your fear. I have learned so much from you about asking questions. Thanks for writing this piece: funny and informative. As usual.

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Margy Martin link
13/5/2016 11:21:46 am

I absolutely loved this! Such good reasoning mixed with wonderful humour.

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    In The Midst

    Author:
    ​Shelaine Strom

    I am a writer by circumstance, a career and life coach, instructor and speaker sidelined in 2012 by a broken-down jaw.
    ​

    I am a writer by design, one willing to venture down a different path in a season of pain and waiting, offering my words and watching God use them for His purposes.

    I am a writer by choice who documented the journey of pain, the decisions made around an invasive surgery, the miracles and the healing process.

    And now I am a writer, who also works with Food for the Hungry, and is eager to share stories of God in the midst of it all.

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