Mess-ups and Sweet Tea

Daddy was a fun-loving and hard working man. When he came home to four girls, a wife, and a gray poodle named Mitzi, he could usually shake off the long day at his government job, change into his blue jeans, slip on his white boat shoes, and meet us at the dinner table with a smile.

Except for one warm Spring evening.

He came to the table as usual. We were chattering about the day, as usual. And, as usual, one of us (me), reached out to pass a bowl of peas around the circle. Then, the not-so-usual thing happened - I knocked my drinking glass over. Sweet tea and ice went tumbling across the tablecloth toward my unsuspecting father.

He stood up abruptly, slammed his fist on the table rattling the glasses that were still standing, and said in his most stern voice,

"THINK!"

Silence in the room.

Dad pushed his chair back to sit down with authority, at which point he promptly knocked over his OWN tea glass.

Sweet tea and ice went tumbling across the tablecloth toward me.

All eyes were on him. He took a deep breath, looked around the table...

...and snortled the best laugh we had heard in a long time. The tenseness in his eyes vanished. We joined in his song of laughter, regaining momentum for the evening ahead.

Sometimes we are tired. Sometimes we are weary. And, sometimes, without meaning to, we take it out on those we love.

Take a breath. Look around you. And, laugh.

Do you think God likes a good laugh? I do. He gave us the ability of laughter to break down stress and to celebrate not only the big moments, but the moments as well. If He gave us this character trait, and we are made in His image, then He must laugh.

God laughs. I love this thought.

Relax at the end of the day. Look around expectantly for the funny.

Laugh.

Joke to get you started...How does Moses make his tea?

Hebrews it. Aha - I saw that smile.

Proverbs 17:22 "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."