Real Men Don't Eat Cucumber Sandwiches...or Do They?
Our district meeting lasted nearly three hours this morning....and in all fairness, I must say that lunch took at least an hour. It is just fun to sit around the table with SK and those four young missionaries. I often have to remind myself that they are 19 and 20 years old. They seem so much older than that!
By the time lunch had been served and cleared up, the meeting took another hour and some, and then by the time all was said and done, it was three hours.
After they left, I had time to start on refreshments for Institute. Don't ask me why, but for some strange reason, I thought cucumber sandwiches would be light and easy and tasty. I have been in the habit of making the richest desserts I can think of, and it seems like a bit of a disservice to these hard-working students. Hence, the cucumber sandwiches.
I was putting the finishing touches on them when a very handsome young man came. He was early by 20 minutes.....something that never happens. SK showed him in - he popped his head in the kitchen to say hello. Then he came in and shook my hand as he introduced himself. He was the teacher! Our regular teacher couldn't make it....she was sick. How much notice he was given, I don't know, but he is the seminaries and Institute Supervisor over several stakes in the midlands, and had driven an hour and a half to get here.
As students drifted in, he seemed to know most of them by name and visited a few minutes with each. He taught us from the Book of James in the New Testament. He is an excellent teacher, drawing everyone into the discussion.
While he covered several wonderful teachings, the one that all seemed to enjoy the most - in this very intelligent group - is encapsulated best with this quote he shared:
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. ---Abraham Heschel
I have always loved that quote!...and it is more meaningful to me now than ever. I love kind people.
Afterwards, I announced that I had made cucumber sandwiches and asked the young men there if "real men eat cucumber sandwiches." The response was a bit of laughter and assurance that yes they do.
There were several American men and a couple of Brits there, and I kind of watched their reaction to the sandwiches. I'm here to tell you....they do not eat cucumber sandwiches, given a choice. I think they all gave it a manly effort, but for the most part, they weren't exactly wolfing them down, The young women, on the other hand enjoyed them and took the leftovers home. Too late, I told them to eat a bite of the sandwich with a bit of potato chip, which I served to the side of the sandwiches. That did help.
I made a wonderful warm caramel sauce (thank you dear Gilbert Highland Groves Relief Society President Kim for sending that recipe this very week) with sliced apples, and THAT was the hit of the evening, with the men in particular. They piled their plates high with apples and drizzled that caramel over.
Whether or not all the men here liked the cucumber sandwiches is irrelevant. They were all very kind about it.
Clever AND kind.....that is my kind of person!
By the time lunch had been served and cleared up, the meeting took another hour and some, and then by the time all was said and done, it was three hours.
After they left, I had time to start on refreshments for Institute. Don't ask me why, but for some strange reason, I thought cucumber sandwiches would be light and easy and tasty. I have been in the habit of making the richest desserts I can think of, and it seems like a bit of a disservice to these hard-working students. Hence, the cucumber sandwiches.
I was putting the finishing touches on them when a very handsome young man came. He was early by 20 minutes.....something that never happens. SK showed him in - he popped his head in the kitchen to say hello. Then he came in and shook my hand as he introduced himself. He was the teacher! Our regular teacher couldn't make it....she was sick. How much notice he was given, I don't know, but he is the seminaries and Institute Supervisor over several stakes in the midlands, and had driven an hour and a half to get here.
As students drifted in, he seemed to know most of them by name and visited a few minutes with each. He taught us from the Book of James in the New Testament. He is an excellent teacher, drawing everyone into the discussion.
While he covered several wonderful teachings, the one that all seemed to enjoy the most - in this very intelligent group - is encapsulated best with this quote he shared:
When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. ---Abraham Heschel
I have always loved that quote!...and it is more meaningful to me now than ever. I love kind people.
Afterwards, I announced that I had made cucumber sandwiches and asked the young men there if "real men eat cucumber sandwiches." The response was a bit of laughter and assurance that yes they do.
There were several American men and a couple of Brits there, and I kind of watched their reaction to the sandwiches. I'm here to tell you....they do not eat cucumber sandwiches, given a choice. I think they all gave it a manly effort, but for the most part, they weren't exactly wolfing them down, The young women, on the other hand enjoyed them and took the leftovers home. Too late, I told them to eat a bite of the sandwich with a bit of potato chip, which I served to the side of the sandwiches. That did help.
I made a wonderful warm caramel sauce (thank you dear Gilbert Highland Groves Relief Society President Kim for sending that recipe this very week) with sliced apples, and THAT was the hit of the evening, with the men in particular. They piled their plates high with apples and drizzled that caramel over.
Whether or not all the men here liked the cucumber sandwiches is irrelevant. They were all very kind about it.
Clever AND kind.....that is my kind of person!
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