If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful that they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
-unknown author adapting Corinthians 13
Great adaptation and great thoughts……So … What’s for dinner?
As always
An old Bohemian wanabe.
Jenny,
I have to explain my “So, What’s for Dinner” response.
Several years ago, while in their 80′s, my landlady suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for a time. Before the Doctors would let her come home they had a series of requirements for home care and rest. The doctor asked her husband several times who would be providing all of this care and each time he replied that he would do it. So even though skeptical about what he heard, the doctor finally said OK you can go home. At that time Irvin stood up, looked at Georgia, and said, “So, What’s for dinner”.
The result was another 30 minutes with their daughter in law having to visit with the doctor.
The result for me has been that I never hear of the struggles of young families, and mothers of children, and wives of farmers without thinking of all that they do, all that they accomplish, and all that they survive, and with all of that; when they get that quiet moment of peace, they don’t hear “I love you” in words that others would understand. What they hear from us is “So, What’s for Dinner”
The truth is we our thank yous are wrapped up in our needs for you to be strong, be happy, show us our weaknesses, and take care of us, and the thank yous may be few and far between.
As always (Love)
Grandpa Andrews
What a thoughtful post. I’m glad you gave me the chance to read it!