CONFESSIONS

I do not like confessions.  Well…those that I have to make, anyway.  And, occasionally I have to.  Yes.  I tend to get excited and go rip-roaring through life, and sometimes that is not a good thing.  I frequently find myself having to back pedal.  Not fun.

But, my DH is usually just the opposite.  Ambling slowly through life is more his style.  And, that gives him a chance to correct things as he goes along, or sidestep them all together.  And, that is probably a much better way of living than mine…but…it is what it is.

HOWEVER…there are times when he will lose his mind…temporarily, of course…and go on a rip and a tear.  In sharp contrast to the ones that I go on…his usually only last a minute or so.  What sets him off is usually something that is out of place, or some perceived ‘stack of mess’…which is, in all actuality, NOT.  It is usually a  ‘stack of things that I want to get to when I have time’.  I don’t ‘stack’ junk…just the things that are worthy of my time.  DH, unfortunately, has quite a different idea of ‘junk’ than I.  And, therein lies the reason for this post.

I have on my island/counter/hub of activity station a large wooden box.  Inside are my candles, and salt and pepper, and other things that we frequently need here.  And, so, knowing his bent to pitch what he considers junk…I put a small stack of papers and catalogs inside so they would be safe from his hands.  Imagine, then, how I must have felt when I walked into the kitchen this morning to go through my stack of goodies while I savored my pop-tarts…and my stack was gone.  GONE, I tell you—–nowhere to be seen.  In times past I have sometimes been able to rescue portions of other ‘discarded by him goodies’ from atop the garbage can.  But, his latest lapse was last night….while he was gathering the trash……to put in the big trash cans to take to the street…for garbage pick-up today since Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, which is our usual garbage day.  So, there was no rescue going to take place.  There was no getting back what he had thoughtlessly swept into the trash.  [Well, actually, he didn’t ‘sweep’ it…he had to make a conscious decision to pick it up and discard it.  Which in my book is much, much worse.]  So, here is CONFESSION #1——I don’t actually remember what all was in the stack…so I cannot be specific in my fussing.  I do know that I had some important coupons, and a magazine, and a catalog that I was going to order something for our  sweet little grandson on his very first Christmas and which now he will never have and it’s all his fault.  DH’s fault…all his.

So, what was I going to do while I sat and ate?  I realize that some of you dear readers do not find it necessary to do two things at once, but I function so much better when I do.  Even though it doesn’t make sense, I feel the need to do something else while eating if there is no one to talk to.  And, there wasn’t at 5:30 this morning.  Looking around the kitchen and the den, I didn’t spy anything that grabbed my attention.  There was only one small devotional book lying on the ledge of the  box.   And, so, here is CONFESSION #2——-I didn’t really want to read the devotional book. I had more important things to read.  Not proud of that.

But, I did pick it up.  And now I can tell you, that that is what I was intended to read this morning.  It is what I needed to read.  And, this is the blessing I wish to share with you.  There was an article there entitled The Miracle of Food.  What a blessing.  I have never thought of food in quite the way that this author does.  The article consists of an interview with Alton Brown, who is host of several cooking shows and winner of numerous awards for his culinary talent.  I offer you the link, and hope that you have the chance to read this before the big day tomorrow.  But, even if it is after…the thoughts contained herein are so worth your time.  Read it here…The Miracle of Food, A Conversation with Alton Brown.  Go, read it now…and come back.  I have something else to tell you, but you won’t understand it unless you have read the article.  So, GO, I’ll wait for you.

And, now to CONFESSION #3——–I am NOT the one with the gift of service in our family.  That person would be my sister, Joy.  Quoting from the article…”Cooking is an act of service, an act of hospitality……No one will cook as well for you as someone who loves you and cares for you.  That’s the food that nourishes above all, because of how and why it was produced.  And, so cooking for our families, eating with our families—that is powerful stuff.”  Joy is in charge of Thanksgiving for our family.  She has planned it…she is cooking it…she will set it all up at Pop’s house…and she has already told me- she will do all the cleaning up.  That is a gift of service.

[I disdain cooking.  It never goes right when I do.  Someone always complains about this or that…and rightfully so.  My mom was a wonderful cook…and my Mother-in-love was a wonderful cook…and my sister is a wonderful cook…and my daughter-in-love is a wonderful cook.  And, I think that is plenty of wonderful cooks in any family!!!  Seriously, I can cook, but I have never enjoyed it.  And, now we have a gas stove which shoots fire at me everytime I turn it on and an oven with so many buttons and pings and dings and sounds it makes you nigh unto crazy just trying to preheat it!]  But, back to Joy…

And, this is not the only area she gives of herself.  She watches over all the members of her family with love and care and understanding.  She serves our church by sharing her musical talents as our church pianist, and she loves and cares for so many of the older members of our church.  She keeps in close contact with so many of them, and especially those who were friends with Mom.  And, she is the major ‘go to person’ for Pop.  She shoulders most of the load in doing things for him and with him.  I cannot tell you what all she does, and she would be upset with me if I did.  I am so often tied up with Alex and my own health issues, but Joy is always there.  I thank her and love her for all she does for us our family.  You have heard me say before how my boys love her.  And, she, them.  We, as the Townsend/Owens/ McKibben family are blessed beyond measure to have her as ours.

To end, CONFESSION #4—–I am still upset about my ‘stuff’ that DH threw away… guess I’ll just have to start a new stack!

Thanksgiving—-it has come to be thought of as most about the food…and that is important.  And, it’s not such a bad thing really.  Because it serves as a reason for our families to get together…to eat together…to laugh together…to recall blessings together…to pray together.

May God bless you and yours with health, happiness, and peace……and lots of laughter!