Why Gravy Reminds This Southern Girl of Jesus’ Scars

Do you have memories tied to an experience? Accidents, trauma, and even celebration often trigger a mental image and thoughts associated with the event. Here’s one of those events cemented in the recesses of my mind.

By Karen Friday

Southern gals know how to make gravy. It’s one of those unspoken prerequisites for coming of age in the south and getting married to a Southern guy.

Types of gravy come in the boatfuls—you’ve heard of the “gravy boat.” Red-eye gravy. Chocolate gravy. I’m referring to breakfast gravy, usually sausage-flavored, poured over piping-hot Southern biscuits.

For 20 years my husband, Mike, served as a youth pastor. He is now lead pastor of our church. Mike grew up on Southern gravy, as did I. Many of our pastor friends often discuss whether there is food in heaven and if it’s Southern favorites like pinto beans and cornbread . . . and gravy!

As a good Southern gal and pastor’s wife, I learned how to make gravy early on in our marriage. Over the years, I have made Southern gravy countless times, mostly on Saturdays.

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Where’s the Gravy?

By Karen Friday

Southern gals know how to make gravy. It’s one of those unspoken prerequisites for coming of age in the south and getting married to a Southern guy.

Types of gravy come in the boatfuls—you’ve heard of the “gravy boat.” Red-eye gravy. Chocolate gravy. I’m referring to breakfast gravy, usually sausage-flavored, poured over piping-hot Southern biscuits.

For 20 years my husband, Mike, served as a youth pastor. He is now lead pastor of our church. Mike grew up on Southern gravy, as did I. Many of our pastor friends often discuss whether there is food in heaven and if it’s Southern favorites like pinto beans and cornbread . . . and gravy!

Read More…

What if ThanksGiving is about ThanksLiving?

Every year I look forward to November’s main holiday, Thanksgiving. But I really desire to live a life of ThanksGiving to God by ThanksLiving for Him year round.

Although Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, I enjoy celebrating the time set aside for giving thanks. 

Maybe you’re one of those people who already has your home Christmas-ready. That’s awesome for you. I say, To each her own. 

Yet, it’s not my cup of tea. Not even holiday spiced tea. For me, I like both feet firmly planted in our thankful holiday before moving on. But the weekend after giving thanks? Then, I’m all about hanging ornaments, positioning blinking lights, and spreading Christmas cheer.

ThanksGiving Around the Table

I enjoy everything about ThanksGiving: gathering with loved ones, and decorating with pumpkins, leaves, and small pilgrims. And I love doing a portion of the cooking.

Because the overall menu lands in the top spot as my all-time-favorite meal. My husband often poses this question: If you could choose one last meal, what would it be? 

Ask anyone who knows me well, and they will tell you how I always choose our ThanksGiving meal. A menu of turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, mac & cheese, green beans, sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, and pies—pumpkin and lemon (my grandmother Clarkston’s recipe). 

Yum! I can hardly wait! 

ThanksGiving is About ThanksLiving

Still, we know the celebration isn’t just about taking our seat at the table to gobble down savory and sweet delicacies. Instead, it’s about ThanksGiving and ThanksLiving.

To encourage our ThanksLiving along, let’s remind ourselves to give thanks for and to our great God. Because He’s a good, good Father who’s given us many gifts.  

God Almighty is reason enough to give thanks and live thankful.

Then we remind ourselves to give thanks to God through living a life of sincere ThanksGiving by ThanksLiving. 

ThanksLiving is ThanksGiving supercharged and supersized. It’s living out giving thanks in our lives all year long by living thankful to God. It’s having thankfulness displayed in our hearts and lives November through November.

A Life of Sincere ThanksGiving by ThanksLiving

Every year, I look forward to November’s main holiday, Thanksgiving. But I really desire to live a life of ThanksGiving to God by ThanksLiving for Him year-round.

Although Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, I enjoy celebrating the time set aside for giving thanks.

Maybe you’re one of those people who already has your home Christmas-ready. That’s awesome for you. I say, To each her own.

Yet, it’s not my cup of tea. Not even holiday spiced tea. For me, I like both feet firmly planted in our thankful holiday before moving on. But the weekend after giving thanks? Then, I’m all about hanging ornaments, positioning blinking lights, and spreading Christmas cheer.

You see, I’m a straight lines kind of girl. So I never like to blur the lines of one holiday and cross over into another one at the same time.

Further, my family knows how much rule-keeping runs through my veins. Perhaps, this plays a role. Regardless of the reason, celebrating holidays distinctly, separately, and in chronological order remains my thing. 

ThanksGiving Around the Table

This makes the third year to host my immediate family (kids and grandkids) and part of my husband’s family in our home for ThanksGiving. I enjoy everything about it: gathering with loved ones, decorating the table with my little pilgrims and a few pumpkins, and doing a portion of the cooking with my guests bringing dishes to add to our spread.

Go Big or Go Home This Easter

Going big to celebrate holidays and special occasions brings me joy. Whether reindeer, flags, turkeys, balloons, party hats, fireworks, paper hearts, pumpkins, or costumes; I say go big.

So why not for Easter? Bunnies, bright-colored eggs, baskets, and assorted candies make me smile.

Every year, we go big in my family. Here’s how.

Go Big with Lunch

Two entrées highlight the meal; roast beef and chicken casserole. Also, the Friday’s Easter menu lists these side-items at no additional charge: gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, macaroni and cheese, peas, and the cream corn my daughter makes along with our featured dessert of the day.

We take our seats at the table. And a feast fit for a king lays before us. But we never disappoint. Second helpings become the sport of the day.

Go Big With Baskets

I keep one tradition in place. Kids, little or grown, human or pet, receive an Easter basket. Our adult son and daughter, son-in-law, two-year-old grandson, and our four-legged fury kids.

Baskets spill over with sweet delights and fun toys or gadgets. A competition of paddle ball, parachute men, or magnetic yo-yo emerges with the grown kids.

You see, each “kid” gets a basket. There’s no boundaries or limitations; not age or gender or bloodline. Both my son and son-in-law meet the same eligibility requirements.

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3 Reasons Why I’m Giving Up Blogging …

…on Thanksgiving Day.

So, truth is, I’m not giving up blogging, not totally. I just won’t be posting next week. This was such a fun blog last year, I decided to repost for those of you who may have forgotten my holiday and turkey sentiments, and for the benefit of my new readers.

As you know, I post an article every Thursday by Girl Friday. But I won’t be posting next Thursday. It’s a holiday.

Here’s a countdown of the 3 reasons why.

Reason #3

I love Turkey. It’s true. I do. Have you ever answered this question with friends, “If you could choose a last meal, what would it be?” Our Thanksgiving feast each year is one of my favorite meals. In fact, it’s first choice for my last meal. Second on the list is pasta. The peak of comfort food.

Envision this mouth-watering spread: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, broccoli casserole, mac & cheese, corn, sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad, and home-made yeast rolls. Don’t forget the pumpkin pie, my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie, and banana pudding! Smack your lips together and dream—there’s no meal like this one.

Along with my mom and sisters, I’ll start early in the week planning. Cooking. Making preparations.

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How to Sop Southern Style

Easter Lunch Table, ready to sop?

I broke bread to sop every last drop of gravy and roast beef drippings on my plate.

Two free entrées highlighted the meal, roast beef and chicken casserole. The Friday’s Easter menu also listed these items at no additional charge: gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, macaroni and cheese, and the cream corn my daughter made.

The featured dessert? Honey Bun cake. A decadent delight swirled with brown sugar and cinnamon, topped with the perfect glazed icing.

Take Your Seat

Time to be seated. Our grandson, Foster, placed at the head of the table as an onlooker. A feast fit for a king laid before us. And we didn’t disappoint. Second helpings became the sport of the day. We each held our own—our eyes not much bigger than our stomachs—not this day. I sopped the last morsels of my meal.

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3 Reasons I’m Giving Up Blogging . . .

… on Thanksgiving Day!

The opening words on my blog Home Page; Real, authentic, soulful posts every Thursday from Girl Friday. But I won’t be posting next Thursday. It’s a holiday. So I’m giving up blogging—next week only on Thanksgiving Day.

Here’s a countdown of the 3 reasons why.

Reason #3

I love Turkey. It’s true. I do. Have you ever answered this question with friends, “If you could choose a last meal, what would it be?” Our Thanksgiving feast each year is one of my favorite meals. In fact, it’s first choice for my last meal. Second on the list is pasta. The peak of comfort food.

Envision this mouth-watering spread: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, broccoli casserole, mac & cheese, corn, sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad, and home-made yeast rolls. Don’t forget the pumpkin pie, my Grandmother Clarkston’s lemon pie, and banana pudding! Smack your lips together and dream—there’s no meal like this one.

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Spotlight Surrender

© 2014 by Karen Friday

The beaming light was blinding. Illuminating me to the audience, but keeping me from seeing them.

Funny thing about spotlights—they are spots of light. Lighting a spot for one. The one in the spot at the time. Only so much presence can fit into a beam of light.

It’s likely we have desired to be in the presence of a person we admire or who is famous. Attending an event or performance, having our picture taken with the person, or backstage passes—as one of their fans—giving us a momentary glimpse of them. What they are like in person—up close.

Up close and personal. The platform I desire for my ministry in speaking and writing. Momentary glimpses of me through my audible voice and my writing voice—in words penned and shared.

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Home

There’s something I want you to know. You are never far from hope.

In tragedy, it is there. During dark moments, it covers with light. It soars above despair.

Life brings hurt, heartache, and disappointment.

Hard places can dissolve every ounce of faith. But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for your soul.

When I served as a pastor’s wife for eighteen years, I helped others find hope. It birthed from answering the tough questions.

Where is God? Did we pray enough? Does God know? Does He see?

This blog community, Hope is Among Us, has a fresh perspective on hope from biblical truths. As the unexplainable happens in life, there is a promise that brings hope near. It’s only found in One. Jesus.

The Story of Girl Friday

As long as I can remember, I’ve been a lover of words. On this site you’ll find my love for God’s Word, expressing scriptural truths as life happens.

Real. Authentic. Soulful.

My writing journey commenced in 2014 and this blog was born.

Grateful to have published a number of articles and devotions in both print and online media. And I’ve appeared in three anthologies.

First published article, “Where’s the Gravy,” WHOA Women Magazine, October, 2014, Volume 4, Issue 4. Print.

Original devotions published with Christian Devotions online and CBN.

Blessed to be a monthly contributor for: Inspire a Fire and Recharge Wednesday/Soaring With Him, contributing writer at A Wife Like Me, and contributing author for our first book, Dear Wife: 10 Minute Invitations to Practice Connection with Your Husband.

I’m represented by agent Blythe Daniel of The Blythe Daniel Literary Agency.

The Backstory

Everyone has a story to tell. I questioned two things as a child:

Is God real?

Am I lovable?

Watch the video viewed over 15,000 times on Facebook or the YouTube version below to discover my answers.

There is power in story.

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