A Reason for Biscuits by Kathleen Friesen

“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

The rumble of a moving truck caught Anna’s attention, and she shifted the curtain to watch it drive away. A young woman walked out of the other side of the duplex, pushing her dark, wavy hair off her forehead, leaving a smudge of dirt.

Poor thing looked exhausted.

The woman swiveled toward the open door. “Stay there, Tristan. I’m just moving the car.”

Anna’s hand went to her heart. A little boy! She opened the curtain a bit wider. A small child stood in 

the doorway, dark hair like his mother’s and shoulders slumped.

Moving was hard. In their 53 years of marriage, Anna and Sam had moved seven times, finally landing in this duplex.Anna loved the park right behind them and schools nearby. Children used to fill the area. She enjoyed the noise, the activity, the liveliness of the little ones. Now those kids were grown, and old people like her settled in.

The little boy next door, however, didn’t look lively at all. Moving was extra hard on kids. Anna wished she could help, but her recent hip replacement kept her mostly housebound lately. What could she possibly do to welcome her new neighbours?

“Make biscuits.”

“What? Why biscuits?” Anna tightened her grip on the curtain. She hadn’t baked anything since Sam had dropped his snow shovel and fell into the arms of Jesus eight months and fourteen days ago.

Plain old biscuits didn’t seem like a proper welcome gift. Cookies would be better. Or maybe a casserole. “Are you sure?”

“Make biscuits.” The familiar, silent voice repeated.

“Okay, Lord, biscuits it is.”

A few minutes later, Anna shifted a towel-covered basket on her arm and knocked on the door of the adjoining home. It opened, revealing stacks of boxes behind the bedraggled young woman.

Anna extended her free hand. “Hello, I’m your neighbour, Anna Simons.”

“Hi, Anna. I’m Shanna Boyer.”

Anna offered the basket. “I made some biscuits to welcome you.”

Shanna’s eyes widened and filled. “Biscuits? Really?Tristan! We got biscuits!”

The little boy ran to his mom, his eyes sparkling. “Oh boy!”

Back home later, Anna marveled. Her simple gift had answered Shanna’s prayer for a sign that God still cared. Biscuits had been her mother’s specialty, one they missed almost as much as they missed her. God knew. And cared.

Anna bowed her head and smiled. “Thank You, Lord, for biscuits.”

Kathleen Friesen writes contemporary stories of faith that can overcome tough trials and deep heartaches. Her desire is for her readers to see themselves in the characters of her stories and to realize that Jesus Christ is the true hero for everyone, whatever their circumstances.

Kathleen and her husband recently moved from British Columbia back to Saskatchewan in order to spend more time with family in between renovations, landscaping and exploring new places. They’ll be overjoyed when the renovating part is done.

Blurb – Hearts Unfolding

Kennedy Rockwell takes pride in working for her family’s Rockwell Concrete Works, but she plans to branch out into her own landscape design business. Strong and independent, she is determined to succeed. Romance can wait…until Austin Warner turns her emotions inside out.

Austin works hard to achieve his goals, and the one closest to his heart is something he’s never really had—a family of his own. Kennedy seems to be the answer to his prayers until a small complication brings huge consequences.

Troubles from their pasts threaten to crush their dreams and push them apart. Can Kennedy and Austin learn to yield everything to the One who can grant them the desires of their hearts?