Missing the Salt | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Missing the Salt | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Carr
05/03/23
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Back in my high school days I knew better than my mother. At least I thought I did. She, who had been cooking and baking for about twenty years, or even longer, obviously did not know the basic recipe for scones* as well as I did. I, a twelve-year old, fresh from my first-ever cookery lesson.

That afternoon I arrived home from school on the school bus as usual, excited to tell Mum that I had learnt how to cook scones. And I wanted to show off my new-found skill. So, my trusting mother gave me the run of the kitchen. I knew that I would produce the best-ever, fluffy, high-rise scones. I would impress my whole family.

Back in class I had copied the recipe from the blackboard and watched my teacher demonstrate how to combine and sift the dry ingredients, rub in the butter, pour in the milk, mix it to a soft dough and then knead it and roll it out. I knew how to cut out the scones with a round cutter, put them on a tray and bake them. I knew I could do it just as well as the teacher. Of course I could.

Mum held back from helping me but kept an eye on the process from nearby as I added ingredients and mixed them.

“I think you need to add salt to the mixture,” Mum said.

“The teacher didn't put salt in it”, I retorted. And Mum, wisely, let me do it my way.

Soon the beautifully prepared scones were in the oven and smelling good. They came out of the oven looking very good indeed. I was impressed with my efforts. Now for the taste test. We cut them and added jam**, and cream. They looked delicious.

But they didn't taste delicious! Something was amiss. What could it be?

“Maybe the teacher did put salt in them,” I suggested sheepishly.

“Yes, I think she did,” said Mum, without saying “'I told you so." However, Mum did seem to enjoy retelling the story of the salt-less scones now and then as I grew up.

And what did I learn from this experience? That I should listen to my mother. That I'm not always right. That other people's experience can be helpful to me, their knowledge feeding into my knowledge.

Many times in my life I have re-learnt that lesson. Many people's learned knowledge and wisdom have helped me grow in knowledge and wisdom. As it says in Proverbs, 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.' (Proverbs 27:17, NIV)

It's worth letting someone else do a bit of sharpening in your life. It's actually a godly habit to get into: listening to others, learning from others and becoming a better person for it. I certainly need some sharpening. Frequently!

* Scones are what North Americans call biscuits.
** Jam is what North Americans call jelly.

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