A Family Tradition

“Pass the green bean casserole.”

“White or dark meat?”

“Bahhaaahaa! Look at Dad… He’s snoring on the couch!!”

“Hey, who took a bite out of my pumpkin pie?!?”

“Let’s pray…”

In case you didn’t get the memo, it’s Thanksgiving. I know that folks have been blogging, talking and preparing for this festive holiday for days, ready to discuss of overeating, conversation, football, worship and in my family’s case, activities that involve shooting rifles and/or hunting.

Just like the quotes above, families throughout the world have a variety of traditions. Some do the turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes route. Others order a pizza and watch football until their eyes go googly. Others are busy mapping out their Black Friday shopping domination strategy. Some gatherings have dozens of people present (high blood pressure anyone?) and others might just have a wife and husband with their new baby, or some due to circumstances or choice, fly solo.  My family here in Kansas has a few traditions as well…

We usually have the staple Thanksgiving foods listed above, but add things like cornbread stuffing (Grandma Neva’s recipe) and fried okra. We usually dine early afternoon and then our tryptophan-induced activities post-gorge include lounging, TV (maybe football… eh) and maybe even doing some target practice in the front yard. Then, after a light supper of leftovers (since we are typically still reeling from the afternoon feasting activities) we bundle up, strap on our headlamps and head to the trees for a round of coon hunting with our hounds. (But that’s whole ‘nother post…)

Regardless of your personal family traditions, there is one that we all can share together. If you are member in the family of Christ, we can worship Him for the sacrifice of The Son. No matter how you slice it, I firmly believe He is the reason we are here, with the ability to give thanks today.

I’m thankful for my faith. And that, my darling family of Christ, is a family tradition we can all share.

Thankful for Jesus,

SGK

"These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng." -Psalm 42:4

True love is...

I can think of a variety of descriptions for "True Love," specifically within marriage. Some of these ideas include rewarding, challenging, refreshing, educational, hilarious, frustrating, growth-oriented, blessed... Oh, and we can't forget that true love in marriage is precious (both truly precious and also sometimes a little sarcastically precious.) 

We've already talked about the aspects of the first year of marriage that Brandon and I have experienced in a previous post entitled A Butterfly Year. But I was reminded today (and for the last year or so) how truly precious true love can be, especially within our marriage. 

Some might say that true love is small acts of kindness, roses, chocolates, hugs and kisses. While all of those things are great (and I love them all) here are a few different ideas about what true love is for us. 

True love is... a husband and wife constantly debating the appropriate temperature  on which to set the thermostat, and still being able to suck it up when the "other" temperature wins out for the day. 

True love is... not completely freaking out to the point of hysteria and/or silence when a wife realizes that her husband has used her toothbrush simply because his bathroom was "too far away." 

True love is... a husband that remembers to roll the garbage out to curb on Thursday nights without being asked. 

True love is... a wife "babysitting" her husband's brewing/fermenting batch of beer that has to be kept cool and adding ice to it while he has overnight staff duty without being asked. 

True love is... receiving a text from a husband asking you to ice his fermenting beer and the wife has already completed the task 10 minutes before. 

True love is... a husband grilling a steak willingly and hesitantly steaming some veggies for supper while a stressed out wife works on homework/church stuff.

True love is... a wife submitting to weekly trips to Buffalo Wild Wings. 

True love is... a husband supporting a wife's fitness goals, while at the same time reminding her that she is beautiful just as she is. 

True love is... a husband trying new foods cooked by his wife, even though he initially said he wouldn't like it-- then being humble enough to admit it was awesome. 

True love is... going to church together whenever the army schedule allows it. 

True love is... doing each other's laundry and dishes, no matter who's turn it is. 

True love is... an army wife remembering to be frustrated with the army and not her husband when schedules are jacked up and less than productive decisions are made. 

True love is.... a husband patiently holding his wife while she cries for a reason that cannot specifically be determined. 

True love is... a husband and wife willing to lose valuable sleep to talk out issues just to avoid going to bed angry. 

True love is... praying together for others and remembering to turn to God in prayer in the middle of an argument. 

True love is... awesome to experience, blessed by Christ and an opportunity to grow together. 

This list might be a little bit unorthodox... but for us, it's all true (and precious.) Another sign of true love is sacrifice. The greatest form of sacrifice that I can think of was the body of Jesus Christ-- what an incredible representation of true love! I am not only thankful to be in a marriage that is based on true love, but also in a relationship with Christ that is the epitome of True Love.

So what IS true love? True love is sacrifice. True love is Christ. 

Truly, Madly, Deeply, 

SGK 

"God, God, a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin." -- Exodus 34:4 (MSG)