Month: August 2025

The Dread of Doing It is Worse than Doing It

By Kathy Pollard

Do you ever have a bad attitude about something and absolutely know it but can’t seem to help it? I’m the worst patient when it comes to all the labs, tests, and appointments the healthcare community insists we need. I kinda have the mantra of ‘if I’m sick, my body will let me know.’ (Don’t be like me.)

I’d been dealing with something for two and a half years that had me constantly clearing my throat, coughing, and losing my voice. I’d finally had enough and decided to make an appointment. But first, I had to find a doctor since I didn’t have one. My new doctor had lots of questions for me. When was your last mammogram? Never. Colonoscopy? Never. Bone density scan? Never. Flu shot? Ah ha, 2017!! I felt like I finally got an answer right on a test. As you might guess, I walked in for a throat problem and walked out with a bunch of upcoming appointments.

The day of the dreaded mammogram arrived, and I prayed as I pulled into the clinic parking lot. “Please don’t let this hurt. Please don’t let them find anything scary. Please don’t let me be a chicken-baby.” Money for Nothing by Dire Straights came on my XM radio. Since I was early, I sat there waiting for the best part of the song. The part I can’t listen to without rocking my head, which I did. It gave me the mojo to declare, “Let’s do this!,” as I stepped out of the car.

“I see this is your first mammogram. You know all of those horror stories you’ve heard? They’re true.”

Those were the first words out of the tech’s mouth as I walked into the imaging room wearing a cotton hospital gown. I laughed, as she knew I would.

The mammogram itself wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. The worst part was the positioning. I thought I’d be the one doing that. It was only 14 minutes from the time I parked to the time I returned to my car. I’d been dreading it, worrying about it, building it up in my mind…and it was over in a flash. I felt a little silly when I left. But still felt like I deserved a donut.

And the throat problem? Turns out it was allergies. I was kicking myself for not having gone in much, much sooner. A Singulair prescription made all the difference. I could’ve saved myself years of embarrassing throat-clearing had I addressed it head on.

Some things are so easy to put off. We just don’t want to deal with them. It could be as minor as replacing a light bulb or replying to messages. It could be a health screening. Or it could be having a hard conversation with a loved one or confessing a sin problem. Ironically, the weight of NOT dealing with it ends up being more burdensome than actually taking the five minutes to take care of it.

Often it’s just a matter of inconvenience or discomfort. But even if whatever needs to be addressed is painful, the relief, peace, or clear conscience that follows is worth it!

James 4:17 Prov. 14:23 Psa. 90:12 Eph. 5:15-17

Sometimes Blessings Require Work

By Kathy Pollard

Nine dozen ears of corn! A friend of ours showed up at church one Sunday night with all that corn for us. It was the Honey Sweet variety and pesticide-free. Neal and I were ecstatic. We’d been eating corn on the cob almost daily since it came into season. There’s nothing better than fresh, tender, sweet corn. We have no problem making a meal out of it with just a few slices of ripe tomato on the side.

That same evening another friend showed up with two large pans of freshly picked green beans. My, we really felt rich driving home with a trunk full of homegrown produce!

“When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things” (Psalm 104:28).

My enthusiasm dimmed somewhat when we carried our bounty in the door and I saw all of the tomatoes, jalapeños, orange snacking peppers, etc. all over my kitchen island. You see, we’d been harvesting our own vegetables and they were still waiting to be processed somehow. 

I spent two whole days making hot sauce and fresh tomato sauce, shucking corn, and snapping beans for the freezer. I didn’t really feel like doing it. There were other things I’d rather be doing!

Sometimes wonderful gifts come into our lives and we’re just overwhelmed with the gratitude of it all:

  • Someone to love
  • A baby
  • A new home
  • A job promotion

We smile and think, “It’s amazing!” And it is. But it’s also work.

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15).

Each example I gave takes constant work in order to stay in good, healthy, happy shape. Hopefully most of that work feels like a blessing in itself. It’s delightful to care for a new home or feed a newborn. But sometimes we just won’t feel like it. There are tedious bits, after all. 

It helps to remember the fresh produce principle:  take care of it now if you want to enjoy it later. 

Those beautiful ripe tomatoes soon turn rotten. The corn must be processed before it turns starchy. And so, you do the work even when you don’t really feel like it knowing your efforts will be completely worth it.

Relationships, children, and opportunities are ripe for enjoyment NOW. It’s all too easy to neglect them or put them off, assuming you’ll have time for them later. Those blessings require daily work. Strengthen the ties. Forgive the hurts. Be present. Express all the love and appreciation. Make the time, even when you don’t feel like it.

After those two long days of snapping and shucking, it was so gratifying to see the kitchen island cleared of produce and my freezers filled with flavors that we will especially love come winter. I started humming while I wiped down my counters and carefully draped the cloth over the clean sink. I took a deep breath and stretched by achy shoulders. I smiled. When Neal got home I proudly told him of my accomplishments and he properly praised my efforts. 

Later that evening he brought in another whole basket full of tomatoes, jalapeños, and orange peppers from our garden and set them on the counter.

Memories are Made of These

By Kathy Pollard

Today is our youngest son’s birthday. Last year he requested “Butterfinger Dessert,” as he’s done for many of his birthdays. As I assembled the layers (it resembles a trifle of sorts), I smiled. Most people would probably serve this dessert in a clear bowl or a trifle dish to show off the layers. But I always serve it in an oversized stainless steel bowl. There’s a reason for that.

About twenty years ago when the boys were young, our family worshipped with a congregation in Neosho, MO, and we stayed for their potluck. That’s where I tried that dessert for the first time and was able to obtain the recipe. It quickly became an oft-requested family favorite. The first time I made it I didn’t own a trifle dish and ended up using the stainless steel bowl.

Now that our boys are grown, I learned something about sentimental traditions:  you don’t mess with them.

You see, a couple of years ago this same youngest son requested a Deep Dark Chocolate Cake for his birthday dessert (another family favorite). I made it for him but he surprised me by saying, “Don’t you usually serve this cake chilled?” I said that I’d just made it so I didn’t need to chill it. He said, “Oh. I just remember this cake being cold.” That’s when I learned that he didn’t just pick a cake for his birthday, he picked a memory. I explained to him that when he was growing up, that was usually a company cake. I would make it the day before to cut down on the work needed the day of having company over. So I’d put it in the fridge and that’s why he remembers it being cold. 

Now I know to chill that cake for birthdays because it’s not so much about the chocolately goodness as it is about recreating a memory. I was delighted to discover that just a small detail could bring back a fond memory for my son.

Isn’t it amazing that as your children are growing up, you are creating special memories without even realizing it?

They don’t have to involve party planners or lots of money or great big adventures. Just regular things you do often in your own unique home. The simple choices you make regularly (like chilling a chocolate cake or serving a dessert in the same stainless steel bowl every time) form the reliable, this-is-our-family moments that become your very own traditions.

Some family traditions are very intentional (nightly devotionals, pizza and games on Fridays, etc.), but many of them happen without you realizing it. Until your grownup kid asks for a Deep Dark Chocolate cake for his birthday.

*Look up “Hershey’s Deep Dark Chocolate Cake” to find the recipe online.

*Here is the recipe for Butterfinger Dessert:

8 Butterfingers, crushed (easier to crush if frozen first)
1 box yellow cake mix, prepared per instructions and cooled
1 container Cool Whip (regular size)
1 (8 oz) cream cheese, room temp
3/4 box powdered sugar (I only ever have powdered sugar in a bag and just guess the amount. ha)
1 box instant vanilla pudding, prepared per instructions

Beat cream cheese until very smooth. Mix in prepared pudding and powdered sugar. Fold in cool whip. Put this filling in the fridge to set up.

Tear cake into chunks.

Layer cake chunks, filling mix, and Butterfinger crumbs in serving bowl. I usually end up with 3 layers of each. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

First time Carl asked for Butterfinger Dessert for his birthday!