The aroma from the kitchen filled the entire compound.
Anyone passing by the gate could perceive a pot of wonder.
Who is cooking? What’s cooking? And for whom?
It was jollof rice and chicken, with all the side dishes that made up a balanced diet.
The kind of meal that smells so good and should taste like heaven.
But the cook was very bitter.
So although the food smelled divine, the taste told a different story. Interestingly, the taste was the opposite of the aroma.
Her visiting friend noticed her mood before she noticed the food.
“What is wrong with you?” she asked gently.
The cook hesitated, then let it all spill out.
Her husband’s family was coming over again. As usual.
They would come, eat, praise the food, and leave. Meanwhile, her children’s school fees were still unpaid.
Yet her husband had no problem buying chicken, extra meat, and enough protein to make the pot look grand, just so he could appear successful in front of his family.
Her friend sighed.
“Oh… is that why you poured bitterness into this meal?”
The cook frowned. “What do you mean?”
Her friend took a spoon, tasted the rice again, and paused.
“How did you manage to cook something that smells this good but tastes like this?”
The cook tasted it again.
And then she knew.
Her friend continued, “When they come, and the food doesn’t taste good, they won’t eat much. It will be a waste. And when they leave, who will still be here with this full pot?”
The cook said nothing.
“You,” her friend said softly. “You and your children.”
Silence.
Then her friend added, “It’s a new year. You have to decide what you are letting go of and what you are correcting. Carrying grudges is heavy work. Most times, the people you are angry with don’t even know. You suffer alone.”
She went on, “Decide what nonsense you will tolerate this year and what nonsense you won’t. If your husband insists on over-garnishing meals to impress people, sit him down. Talk about your children’s future, which should come first before any other unnecessary acts.”
Family gatherings should not feel like punishment. And bitterness will not solve problems.
“Cook with peace in your heart,” her friend said. “Sing while you cook and let the food be as good as it smells.”
The cook nodded slowly.
As her friend stood to leave, she smiled and said,
“Now I have to go somewhere else to enjoy my Sunday rice. I can’t eat Sunday rice prepared in bitterness.”

This post is part of the Sunday Rice Series, a weekly reflection on rest, healing and everyday wisdom.
So, what are you cooking with this season? Peace or bitterness.
Share your thoughts in the comments section.