There are times when things are done out of order. It could be when you try a new way of doing what you thought was set then see it’s time to look at the details one more time. 

When a recipe asks for one thing to be done but you think it could be done another way. 

You wonder if it would make that much of a difference if one thing is changed. 

So, you try it. 

Then you notice that something is different. 

Perhaps it can be like making a pie crust and changing out the cold water. It is easily done in the moment, yet what happens when the pie is done? 

It is more easily broken. You notice that the flaky goodness that was there in the past is now not quite the same. 

What seemed to be a time saver in the moment turned out to be the one key part of the recipe that made all the difference. 

Who knew this was the case? 

Turns out many people who make pies know this. 

It was the cold water along with the flour, salt and butter or shortening that made a tasty crust. Promise.

That’s a pie crust promise. Easily made, easily broken.

Yes, the quote from Mary Poppins that says ‘That’s a pie crust promise. Easily made, easily broken’ that is true here. 

Pie crusts are both easily made if the steps are followed. If the ingredients are tracked. 

Let that sit with you as we look at even the basic four things needed.  

What I found out is that I’m the one who needs to keep track of the ingredients.

Even the ice water. 

Then, I found myself remembering that there was another time that pie was part of a promise. 

This time going back in time to see in my mind the time that our son enjoyed a piece of pie. 

It was just like this one you see. 

A flaky piece with small bite size apples eaten one bite at a time. 

Bite by bite until the small plate was clean. 

Yes, every morsel was delightfully gobbled up then he sat back with an even bigger smile as if to say ‘Well, that was the best thing I’ve ever had so far in my life!’ 

That pie crust promise was given and received.

That pie crust promise was given and received as it was meant. 

With love and joy, sitting side by side with others and noticing every crumb on the plate. 

What if that is the meaning of a promise at its core? 

That we sit side by side with someone and notice the details. 

Even down to the last morsel or item in front of us? 

That is what this quote gives me alongside the memory that seems to float with it. 

If we were to do these two things, sit side by side and notice the details then what else would come? 

I think there is magic that could come, and not the kind that Mary Poppins brings. 

It is the kind of magic that our son showed so delightfully. 

He only ate this one piece of apple pie with bite size chunks. 

With it, he showed what could happen when you sat with someone by their side. 

Or invited someone to sit by your side. 

If the moment came to him and someone was near, he would pull them to his side in a way that you felt a part of him so closely that you could feel his essence. 

Dallin knew that doing each thing was important and was like doing things that count. 

He was pulling people to him as a way to show you how to notice the small things. 

The crumbs were the tasty morsels of life. 

It could have looked like a broken pie crust but not a broken promise.

Yes, it could have looked like a broken pie crust but not a broken promise. 

Our son, Dallin, showed how to keep a promise by being by our side for as long as possible. 

My how he showed the magic of life. 

Inviting someone to sit by you, showing them that you have noticed them and their details of life is as if you are saying ‘You are the best thing in my life!’ 

That is the easily made part. Like adding cold water to a pie crust. 

There is another part that is more difficult and may feel like being broken at times. 

That is when life seems to be done out of order. 

For me, that was when our son died and was no longer here. 

How could that be when he was the one to show how easily sitting by his side had been for a lifetime. 

This one change did make many differences in my life. 

Now is when I need to ask the next question of ‘What are we going to do next?’

Will the pie crust promise of being side by side stay intact?

Will the pie crust promise of being side by side with others stay intact or will this be the time for the magic to disappear? 

Do you see that it is still time for the details to stay in place, like the crumbs on the plate when our son ate that one piece of pie? 

For me, deciding to continue to sit with others, and pay attention to details all around is what I now know will happen. 

It’s how I can say ‘You are the best thing in my life!’

Is there someone you feel the magic with as you sit by their side? 

Now could be the time to notice the small things of life with them as you look for love and joy. 

Let’s do this together. It’s a promise that is easily made.