A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. PROVERBS 17:22
FAMILY ANXIETIES OR THANKSGIVING JOY
Anne had spent most of her young life in a family where discord and conflict were the norms in the family. Fighting, yelling and holiday blow-ups were quite common and joyless.
Now a wife and a mother, she was determined to get her entire family together for a "Happy Thanksgiving Dinner" and start new traditions in her own little family. She needed and wanted EVERYTHING to go perfect so there would be less stress, arguing, and tension.
Her husband was actively keeping six months old Emma busy as Anne was putting together a wonderful dinner for her entire family! Quite frankly she was shocked that they all had accepted hers and her husband's invitation for the holiday dinner.
A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE
By the time everyone had arrived, the table was draped with a lovely linen print table cloth that bore the words, "Grateful, and Thanks" amid autumn colored leaves. Each piece of china was set perfectly along with silverware and cloth napkins, it was a "designer's dream table!"
The turkey was almost ready to come out of the oven and Anne
had placed the ten-pound bag of potatoes in her grandmother's old pressure cooker. Across-the-board all was going very well, even her family was being courteous with one another.
Soon everyone gathered at the table, Anne's husband handed the baby off and began to carve the turkey as she placed some side dishes on the table.
THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED
Anne had not placed the lid to the pressure cooker on correctly and it erupted with enough force to send the ten pounds of cooked potatoes EVERYWHERE! They covered the kitchen walls, counters, flooring and even the dining table that
was off to the side, every crevice seemed to have
some particle or fleck of potatoes in them.
Still, that wasn't the worst of it -- the potatoes also landed on everyone at the table, onto their clothes and even in their
hair. Anne stood there shocked and waiting for the break out
of anger to flood the room with what had so far been a peaceful time.
FLEETING ANGER
Her father stood up to "voice his displeasure" when then their baby Emma shocked but unhurt burst out into one of those huge belly laughs... she didn't mind the way mom served the potatoes.
Emma's laughter was so contagious that before long everyone was laughing as they used the cloth napkins to wipe themselves off. For the first time in Anne's life, she saw her entire family laughing together -- it seemed they were all a bit shocked that could even happen.
Absent the potatoes, everyone enjoyed the entire turkey dinner along with Emma her sweet spirit and irrefutable laughter!
SOME FAMILIES NEED OUR PRAYERS
It's important to know that not every family is warmhearted and vivacious with one another. Some children live with the backlash of anger, abuse and heartache every day of the year despite holidays.
Take time this holiday season to "pray for families" who struggle to find contentment even in their own homes and families. And, remember to give thanks if you have a family that genuinely cares for each other!
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO LISTEN TO SOME HEARTY BELLY LAUGHS BELOW:
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