Kneading The Bread

     Last Christmas, Ginny gave me something I’ve always wanted, a bread maker. It takes ten minutes to put the ingredients into the machine and turn it on. Four hours later, I have a wonderful loaf of bread.

     As much as I love my new machine, when I have time, I like to make bread the old way. The dough squeezing through my fingers is somehow comforting. At first it’s a bit messy, but after it has risen the first time, I knead it again. This time the dough is soft and smooth. I get lost in thought, as I turn the dough over and over. The repetitive motion is relaxing, almost hypnotizing.

     I let the dough rise again, pop it in the oven, and soon the house is full of it’s heavenly aroma. When it’s done, I wait for it to cool enough to cut that first delicious slice. As I wait, I admire it. It’s a work of art, shaped and molded with time and experience.

     I looked at my son the other day and realized, raising children is a lot like making a loaf of bread. At first, they are tiny and helpless and yes, even messy. All the ingredients are there to create a fine human being, but we have to knead, mold, and shape them, until they rise into fine adults.

     Most children reach a stage, usually in their mid to late teens, where they resist the kneading. They think they no longer need our guidance or advice and believe they’re ready to take on the world. Just like the first rising of the dough, we have to let them be for a bit. We need to give them space to grow and learn on their own.

     Somewhere in their twenties, they change again, and once more seek our advice. It’s time for the second kneading. This time, however, like the dough, they are softer and ready to be kneaded and molded. They accept the fact, that we do indeed know what we are doing, and allow us to shape them the final time.

     My son is not ready for his second kneading, but the time will come. When it does, I’ll take time to knead and mold him the final time. Afterward, I’ll be able to look at him and say to myself, “He’s a work of art, created with time and experience.”

     I think I’m going to have a fine loaf when I’m done.

~ Michael T. Smith ~

[ By: Michael T. Smith Copyright © 2005, (mtsmith @ qwestonline.com) -- submitted by: Michael T. Smith ]