Sit quietly in the stillness of God's presence while He prepares you for this day of rest.

BAKER'S DOZEN
 

The baker had a good business, a plump wife, and a big family. He was a happy man. But trouble came to his shop one day in the guise of an old woman.  She entered the shop a few minutes before closing and said:  “I wish to have a dozen cookies.”  She pointed to the special angel meringue cookies that were sitting out on a tray.  So he counted out twelve cookies for her.

The old woman’s eyes narrowed when she saw the cookies.  “Only twelve?” she asked.

The baker knew at once what she wanted.  There was a tradition that said a baker’s dozen is thirteen cookies; one extra baked good as a “thank-you” for a plentiful order. But this baker was known to reject the custom. What man of sense would give away an extra cookie for free?

I asked for a dozen cookies, and you only give me twelve,” the woman said to the baker.

“A dozen is twelve, woman, and that is what I have given you,” he replied.

“I ordered a dozen cookies, not twelve, the baker’s dozen.” said the old woman.

The baker was upset by her insistence.  He always gave his customers exactly what they paid for. Nothing more. Nothing less. The baker was a thrifty man with a very high opinion of his baking prowess. It was against his nature to give away something for nothing. And furthermore, he opined, his baked goods were the finest in the land and his customers were lucky to get them.

“I have a business to run and a family to support,” he replied stiffly.  “If I give you a free extra cookies, everyone will expect one. A dozen is twelve, not thirteen!  Take it or leave it!”

“Very well,” said she, and left the shop without taking the cookies.

From that moment on, his good fortune changed.  The next day, his cakes were stolen out of the shop, and the thieves were never found.  Then the bread refused to rise.  For a week, every loaf of bread the baker made was so heavy that it fell right through the oven and into the fire.  The next week, the bread rose so high that it actually floated up the chimney.  He was frightened when he saw the loaves floating away across the rooftops...READ MORE