Just a few years ago, I would have said that I had no real talents. I could do plenty of things, sure. But something that could be considered a gift? Naw.

Then I had a homeschool friend call and ask if I would teach a high school biology class. I’ll admit, I laughed. Me? Did she realize I had no college education? No teacher training? No credentials, other than the fact that I had homeschooled my three boys?

Yes, she knew. But, she said, you like bones and bugs and snakes. And you like to dissect things.

Well, yes. Yes to all those things. She convinced me that tons of moms would love to hand the proverbial scientific reins over to me. And that was how I somehow acquired a whole class of kids whose parents trusted me to teach them. It was both nerve-wracking and terrifying. Nerve-wracking because I am, at heart, a very insecure person. Terrifying, because I thought parents would be calling me to say I was doing a terrible job and they didn’t think I could help a cat out of a bag, much less educationally ready their children for the world.

Each of us has a God-given passion, even if it is as humble as collecting dead bugs. Think about the things that give you joy, that make you flush with excitement to talk about. And then give that as a GIFT to someone else. Click To Tweet

Miracles happen. The kids seemed to like both me and the class. It was amazing, a huge boost to my non-existent self-esteem and my soul. I continued teaching the class, and this year I had so many students I had to split them into two classes. And now my class has younger siblings of prior students, so apparently their parents still trust me!

At every class, I serve a snack and drinks. Julia Child once said, “A party without cake is just a meeting.” I say that a class without a snack is just dull. The word snack to me means a sweet; no celery and cheese here. Turns out several of my biology kids liked our class snacks so much, they asked for a cooking class. Now I am teaching two subjects close to my heart.

For me, cooking is a way to show love to the one who eats it. It is very personal for me. And I believe that no matter who you are, or how young or old, you can make dishes worthy of a magazine cover. I know, I kinda sound like that fat chef in the movie Ratatouille, but it’s true.

Our cooking class started slowly, with some good basic culinary lessons, and then each succeeding class expanded on these skills. Two classes ago, we made Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon, basil-infused parmesan mashed potatoes, and a French lemon cake. Not too shabby for a beginner course.

At our recent meeting, we focused on beautiful treats to serve for special occasions. We began with a Sugared Jam Cake. The recipe is from an issue of Bake magazine. It starts with a rich batter spread into the bottom of the pan, topped with a lavishing of jam, and then covered with another layer of batter. When it is baked, it is brushed with butter and covered in cinnamon sugar. Heavenly!

Second, we roasted pear halves in the oven. As they cooked we made a fleur de sel caramel sauce that was so good, we decided it was a viable option to just eat it with a spoon.

Last was a Viennetta. This is an Italian dessert that has a sweetened egg base, layered into a mold with shards of dark chocolate and whole raspberries. It is frozen, and, when sliced, is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

I never thought that cooking could be a gift. It was simply something you did to nourish the people you love. I never knew that my love of nature, in all its guts and glory, could be a gift that would inspire kids to see science with new eyes. But my passion for things I care about, whether critters or cooking, seems contagious when I share it with others. In fact, I had one girl who came to the first biology class dreading it and who left with the decision to take biology at John Brown University.

Please don’t be like I was and shake your head, thinking you have nothing to offer. Each of us has a God-given passion, even if it is as humble as collecting dead bugs. Think about the things that give you joy, that make you flush with excitement to talk about. And then give that as a GIFT to someone else. What you know is too wonderful not to teach to someone!