Banana Bread Blessings
By Terri Packard
Lent invites us to wait—not passively, but faithfully. The term "Lent" itself derives from an Old English word meaning "spring", reflecting the season of renewal and resurrection associated with Easter. God works in hidden ways while we resist the urge to rush what feels uncomfortable or unfinished. Jesus reminds us,
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”
Recently, while getting my kids ready for bed, they asked for fruit. I pointed to the bananas on the counter and said, “I don’t think you want these.” They were overripe—soft, spotted, past their prime. But my son lit up and said, “Those look perfect for banana bread!” That night, after the house was quiet, I baked. By morning, what once looked unusable had become something warm, nourishing, and shared with joy.
Lent teaches us the same truth. What looks like loss, waiting, or even failure is often the very place God is preparing new life. We live in the in-between, trusting the promise spoken at the empty tomb:
“He is not here; for he has been raised”
We wait, knowing resurrection is coming.