Grandma’s Cooking Stove

Grandma was a good cook. I always enjoyed her meals when I was a little boy. School holidays were fun for me because I had to travel home to her. She contributed immensely to those happy times. (God rest her soul.)

Whenever she made her delicious soup, I usually sat by her traditional stove. I watched the raging fire lick the wood. The metal stove is designed with spaces for firewood and charcoal. I remember how she worked expertly on her stove, thrusting wood in and out, knowing when to pause and when to add more ash or charcoal. This little reflection isn’t just about my Grandma’s cooking, but also about the lessons I learned while watching the wood burn in her stove.

Five woody brothers

Once, I observed Grandma’s cooking method closely. She placed many small sticks and five large logs on the stove. When she lit them, the flames grew hot gradually. It wasn’t long before the flames became fiery. I noticed that the five logs created a stronger flame, and whenever Grandma removed one or two to adjust the stove, the flames died down.

While reflecting on this, I realized that unity is a powerful force. When the wood burned together, they produced a large flame, but when separated, they hardly gave off any heat. I took this lesson about the power of unity home with me. We won’t make much progress if we are disunited. Unity really is a powerful force.