We will be having an all day mission meeting this weekend, and we've all been asked to bring something salty and something sweet for our meeting snacks. Since I happened to have pretzels (a lovely treat here!) and someone just brought me Nestle chocolate chips, well, my decision was clear. Chocolate covered pretzels! And since Friday will be very busy, Thursday afternoon became the best time to make my youth group snacks (choc. chip cookie bars) and the pretzels for Saturday.
Peter my watchman found me with chocolate all over one hand and I showed him what I was working on. Then I gave him a sample. He proclaimed my creations a hit, and so I awarded him with licking the spoon. But first I told him that this is an American tradition held in many families. I fondly remember days of licking the spoon from brownies and icing and puddings. Now- ick- the thought makes me cringe. But at the thought that I might have the privilege of watching a 49 year old man step back into a childhood rite, well, I jumped on the chance.
Peter was a little nervous and giggly at first- this was NOT something you are to do. In fact, Susan (my house helper) told him to use his finger and not his tongue. I personally think she was jealous (she was on the way out the door and didn't want to take time to join in). Of course it may have been that Susan, as an African momma, was thinking how unsanitary it might be to lick a "cooking spoon". I didn't care. I wanted him to enjoy... and thus the pictures below. He giggled more and enjoyed that spoon so much. Then before I could wash the cookie sheet I'd been using to roll the pretzels around in the chocolate, Peter used the spoon and scraped more chocolate up to snack on that, as well. Very cute. Very boy-like.
I think we all ought to take a walk down "memory lane" and become like children again, once in a while. I was so glad to be there for Peter's FIRST trip into a childhood tradition. :)
I loved the joy on his face and the delight in his giggles. I think heaven will be full of many of these feelings- although I don't know for sure if they'll have anything to do with licking spoons.
Below: He gave a thumbs up and proceeded to finish off the left over chocolate on the tray.
