Shortbread, Family, and Identity in Christ

Throughout the month of December, we are hosting a virtual Christmas Tea, and in this post I share about Shortbread, Family, and Identity in Christ. 

My Christmastime memories often are tied to sweet creations with my mother. Growing up, I loved baking with mom! 

One of my favorite things to do was to bake cookies. Measuring ingredients, creaming butter, mixing dough– I loved it all! 

It was a happy and joyful time filled with love and laughter, and delicious smells emanating from the oven.

As most kids do, I thoroughly enjoyed every cookie that we made, but I definitely had my favorite, and it’s still one of my favorites today. I love the simple, golden, buttery taste of shortbread.

Family Identity

My ancestry is a bit of a “Heinz 57” mix, and one part of that mix is Scottish. As mom and I baked shortbread she would often tell me that it was no wonder I liked it so much, since the shortbread and I were both Scottish! 

As a child, I found her little joke intriguing. Could I really like something just because my ancestors liked it, and because I was somehow connected to them? And though I didn’t have words for it then as a small child, it made me feel like I belonged. I felt connected with a long family line that went way before me, full of people I would never get to know.

Yet we had something in common… a love for this little golden treat! 

And when I grew up, I passed down the recipe to my children and used the same simple opportunity of Christmastime baking to teach my girls (without them even realizing they were being taught) that love, joy, and togetherness is a privilege that can flow from one’s identity.

Identity in Christ

Simple traditions, like baking Shortbread cookies, can express and remind us of our identity in Christ.

Just as a little Christmas-cookie baking could teach me about my familial identity, spending time with the Lord teaches me about my identity in Christ. Though I will never get to meet most of my siblings in the family of God, I know that we are united together. 

We have the same joys (the joy of the Lord is our strength) the same love (we love because He first loved us), and we are connected into the “togetherness” that is His body.

And this is why Jesus came, isn’t it? He came to offer eternal life and complete reconciliation with God to those who believe; He came to welcome any who would receive Him into His family. We belong with Christ; we are His children.

Resting in this truth (resting in Him) gives us peace that passes understanding. Cheli said in the intro post to this series, “It is my prayer that you will know the hope, peace, joy, and love of God throughout the Christmas season.”

It feels pretty delicious to belong and to know who you are.  It brings us hope, peace, joy, and love!

Sottish Shortbread Recipe

If you would like to make Scottish Shortbread that tastes like what I grew up eating, here is my recipe:

• 1 Stick of butter, plus 3 Tablespoons (room temperature)
• ½ cup of powdered sugar
• 1 ½ cups plus 2 Tablespoons of flour
• Pinch of salt

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Cream the butter and gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until it’s fluffy. 
3. Sift the flour and salt into the creamed butter and sugar. Mix thoroughly.
4. Press the dough into a 9 inch pie pan and prick the surface with a fork. Score it into 16 or 20 wedges (as if you were slicing pieces of pie), cutting only halfway through the dough.
5. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until it is firm in the center and golden on the edges.
6. Cool in the pan, then flip out onto a cutting board and slice through the score marks to serve.

What simple traditions do you do with your family that express or remind you of your identity in Christ?

Share with us in the comments.

May you be blessed sweetly as you draw near Christ and focus on your identity in Him.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Ali