The Walk

I took a walk of shame the other night. Uh huh. That's right. My husband called it. I was just hoping my neighbors were too busy to notice my trudge through the backyard with what was supposed to be dinner.

Please  tell me some of you know the walk I'm talking about! Our yard backs up to a wooded area that unfortunately has become the graveyard for my culinary catastrophes. I spent 11 years in higher education but cannot seem to master the art of chicken and dumplings. (I fully expect pointers in the comment section!) At least that's what it was supposed to be that night. What can I say? Some of you are related to Rachel Ray. (I'm pretty sure it tells a lot that she is the only t.v. chef I can think of and I don't even know if she is still going strong.) The rest of us? We manage to keep our families alive. (Albeit they may end up with a few temporary digestive issues.)

Initially I thought, "maybe it's not so bad' after I gave the kids a bowl and they actually ate it.

Then I tasted it.

Who was I kidding? My kids eat boogers. They'll eat anything. It was terrible. I admit, their palate may need a little refining.

As I walked back to the porch, empty charred pot in hand, my husband and I just laughed. And later when I had stomach cramps? He may or may not have laughed again.

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

All this to say: sometimes we need to choose laughter. Frequently I'm my own worst critic. Thoughts I must somehow be and do everything well, when I obviously don't, threaten to discourage me. Ecclesiastes 3: 1,4 says, "There is a time for everything, a time to weep and a time to laugh." 

None of us are perfect. You know what? If we were we'd probably laugh A LOT less, be the most boring person we know, and all dried up. So the next time we're tempted to dissolve in a puddle of tears over scorched dinner, or whatever it is we struggle to do well that day, let's choose laughter. 

Laughter and grace. Let's allow ourselves a little grace- the grace of God. 

"But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."            
     2 Corinthians: 12:9

Whatever our weaknesses are, big or small, let's learn to laugh when possible and accept that our Heavenly Father can use even scorched dumplings. 

As a side note: The Lord equips us. I'm proof of that. He made sure I was comfortable with resuscitation measures, given that my culinary abilities likely put my family at a higher risk for cardiac arrest! 

REFLECTION: 

1. What is one shortcoming you often beat yourself up over that could instead be responded to in laughter? 

2. Do you find it hard to acknowledge weaknesses? Why or why not? 

3. Laughter is a gift from God. Let's look for those opportunities and thank him for them.