The 13th

Thirteen days from today is the 13th. We’re counting down.

Here is the whole idea: bake a dozen cookies. Keep twelve for the people you already love. Give the thirteenth to someone new.

No sign-up. The cookie is never for sale. On the 13th of every month, one extra cookie goes to someone who wasn’t expecting it.

It’s called The Thirteenth Cookie. The first one goes out Tuesday, October 13.

The old story goes that bakers threw in a thirteenth so nobody could say they’d been shorted. A baker’s dozen.

We’re keeping the tradition and changing who it’s for.

Twelve for your people. One for the person who isn’t anybody’s people yet.

Walking up to someone you don’t know is hard.

Walking up to someone you don’t know WITH A COOKIE is a completely different sport.

The cookie does the talking for the first ten seconds. All you have to do is say your name.

Don’t overthink it. Who came to mind first?

That’s probably your thirteenth.

Tell us in the comments WHO it’ll be, not their name. “The new kid in chemistry.” “Our bus driver.” “The family on the corner.” Their name stays with you.

Of all the chapters, it’s the thirteenth.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

Not “be nice to the people who are easy to be nice to.” As I have loved you.

Save this one. The house recipe: Dad’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Cream together 1¼ cups Kerrygold butter, 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar. Mix in 2 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla (vanilla paste is even better). Add 3¼ cups King Arthur flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1½ tsp salt. Mix just until gathered. Last: ¾ bag of chocolate chips and, if you’re doing it his way, ½ bag of Heath bar chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon. 375°F for 12–13 minutes on an insulated sheet. Let sit 5 minutes before moving them.

Makes plenty. You only need thirteen.

1. Share a cookie. Walk over, hand it to them. That’s the whole script. 2. Learn their name. Ask it, say it back once, keep it. 3. Remember one thing they love. Bring it up next week.

Number three is the one that turns a cookie into a friend. People notice when you remember.

You don’t need a speech. You need one line.

“I made too many.” “I baked a dozen. This one’s yours.” “I’m ____. What’s your name?” “What are you into?”

Then listen. Listening is most of it.

Somebody near you is wondering whether anyone would notice if they weren’t there.

You can’t always tell who. So bake for the one you’re not sure about.

“Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15–16)

Before He ever said “Feed my sheep,” He cooked breakfast.

Fish on a fire of coals, and bread, on the beach, for friends who had fished all night and caught nothing. “Come and dine.” (John 21:9, 12)

Sometimes the most literal reading works too.

Weekend errand.

Butter (Kerrygold if you can), flour (King Arthur if you can), white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, salt, a bag of chocolate chips. Heath bar chips if you’re doing it Dad’s way.

If the good stuff isn’t in the budget this week, buy the best you can and bake it anyway. The recipe matters less than the extra one.

The thirteenth verse of the thirteenth chapter.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“Charity is the pure love of Christ.” (Moroni 7:47) Two days. Start thinking about who.

Tomorrow’s the 13th. Tonight’s the night to bake.

Three house rules before you hand anything over: Ask about allergies. Bring a parent to a neighbor’s door. Post the cookie, not the person. Their name stays with you.

It’s the 13th. Go give it away.

When you do, tap “I gave my thirteenth” on the site. It counts the cookie, never the person. Watch the number climb.

Post the cookie with #TheThirteenthCookie. Not the person, not their name. That part is yours to keep.

See you November 13.