Tender Mercy

Applesauce, Salsa, Strawberry Freezer Jam, Corn, Peaches, Fruit Cocktail were all the items on my agenda this year for canning. Why? I have no idea.. I get all pumped and excited until im half way into it and then I say Uuuuggghh!! But hey we will have something to eat in the middle of winter. I had a little episode with my salsa a few days ago. Marne helped me to understand that this was truly a tender mercy.

I was laboring in the kitchen all day (5 or more hours) earlier this week making salsa. That included cutting tomatoes and vegetables until I wanted to scream then waiting for the salsa to thicken over a few hours time. After awhile I was getting close to being done when I noticed the salsa smelled burnt . It made me sick to my stomach to even think that i had burned that salsa. I didn't even want to go there! I was TICKED! i was so mad that I just felt like crying. I felt like no matter how hard I tried that I still couldn't do anything right. Let me just remind you that I HATE burning food. Nothing makes me madder! I didn't even want to taste it cause i wasn't ready to face the fact of it being burnt. I waited, waited, and waited, trying to let it sink in and get used to the fact that my salsa was done, over, wasted! As i said a little prayer in my head "please save this salsa, let it not taste bad, please, please" I put the salsa to my saddened lips and tasted first a spicy hot, jalapeno taste and then awaited the taste of burnt that i was sure was going to follow. I was sitting there with my feet aching, enjoying the cushy seat, and was trying to figure out why I did not taste the burnt taste that I was sure was in that salsa. I was sure that it was just me, maybe I couldn't taste it cause i didn't want to so off I went to find Darin, thinking that surely he could tell me that it was burnt. He thought it tasted fine too. After having Marne's husband taste it while I was there and getting his approvel of the ok tasting salsa I was starting to believe that maybe I had been given a tender mercy. The Lord knew that I was trying so hard to stored food for my family and do what he has asked that he preserved my salsa from tasting burnt. Later after I had emptied my pan, there covering the bottem was a solid layer of charred salsa. I am just grateful for He who is watching over us when we least expect it.