Grapefruit, Elderflower + Tequila Cocktail [and Friday night mercies]
I don't do well with little inconveniences. I know life includes hard seasons, but sometimes I forget it also includes a lot of annoying moments. I do not suffer these well. I too quickly lose my patience, I say unkind words, and my anxious mind races to the worst-case scenario in even the tamest problems.
Monday morning started with ornery kiddos, and that usually means I'm more than a bit ornery myself. Then while I cracked eggs in a pan and poured cups of milk for the twins, I heard rushing water from the bathroom upstairs. Not normal rushing water, like the bathtub starting or the toilet flushing. No. I walked upstairs to find my husband soaking wet and water shooting across the bathroom as if it came out of a fire hose.
I probably said something harsh (or at least looked like I was about to), and then I turned around, walked out of the room, and tried to pretend our bathroom wasn't flooding at 7am on a Monday morning.
The chaos eventually subsided, my husband took the twins to Home Depot to buy a part to fix the shower, and I sat down to catch my breath. My impatience and weariness got the best of me that morning, and I needed a redo. I wanted to rewind those couple hours not to change the circumstances, but to change my attitude.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
I can't say my temper and my heart instantly turned calm and gracious (although the flowers my husband brought home helped). But I can tell you that once again, I was reminded His mercies are new every morning. I was reminded of that same truth later in the week as my kids' fighting wore me out, when the baby wouldn't nap, and after anxiety got the best of me.
It's Friday. And thankfully, His mercies are new on Friday nights as much as they are on Monday mornings. So I'm breathing a sigh of relief and soaking in His goodness. Oh, how often I fail to suffer the little things well.
But time and time again, He shows up faithful.
Grapefruit, Elderflower + Tequila Cocktail
Yields 1 drink
3 ounces grapefruit juice
1 ½ ounces elderflower liqueur
1 ½ ounces silver tequila
1 egg white or 1 ounce aquafaba*
Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional
Ice
Add all ingredients except the cayenne to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds, then strain into a cold glass. Top with a pinch of cayenne pepper. Serve and enjoy!
*When shaken up with a cocktail, egg whites add a creamy, frothy texture to a drink. Because you’re consuming raw eggs, make sure they’re high quality. If you prefer a vegan option, use aquafaba, which is the liquid left after soaking legumes. The next time you use a can of chickpeas, reserve the liquid from the can and shake up a cocktail! (Make sure there are no other added ingredients like salt or other seasonings.) For more about aquafaba, check out this article from Bon Appétit.
