Sunday evening's popcorn is one of our favorite treats.
We like it with butter and lots of salt.
Jonathan is usually the one to make the popcorn, and to butter and salt it, too.
"Ye are the salt of the earth," Jesus said.
Popcorn tastes so much better when it is salty.
And lives are so much more attractive when they are lived with something that actually tastes--
passion, glow, ardor, love, joy, faith, purpose!
Jesus didn't say "You are the sugar of the earth," because He wasn't teaching that we be sweetsy people pleasers. Saltiness requires the grace of authenticity, honesty and vulnerability,
the grace of being accountable to others and holding others accountable,
the grace of choosing to deeply love,
to love when it is tough,
and to have a tough love that is firm as well as gentle.
Sometimes genuine love hurts others' feelings, or our own.
That's when you have to decide whether to grow up or remain stunted in your version of love.
the grace of choosing to deeply love,
to love when it is tough,
and to have a tough love that is firm as well as gentle.
Sometimes genuine love hurts others' feelings, or our own.
That's when you have to decide whether to grow up or remain stunted in your version of love.
Just being sweetsy and having a shallow love that is merely civil when necessary
but does not love deeply or speak truth
or seek to understand
or reach beyond what is convenient
ends up like hollow candy that Danny complained about Sunday evening.
"It's hollow!" he exclaimed in dismay as he took a bite off the top of his snowman candy.
"Have salt in yourselves," Christ said, "and be at peace with one another."
It is a blessing to be at peace with others.
Especially in your own family, and also with others.
A few days ago we drove to some friends to find out how to take care of their chores while they were gone. The girls and friends (and the boys, too), had a great time with each other exploring the family's new property on the prairie.
I snapped this lovely silouette of four girls coming back from a winter walk
I snapped this lovely silouette of four girls coming back from a winter walk
talking to each other.
They were coming back from a walk among the cedars and very old cottonwoods.
And their mom was out drinking in tree trunks and crumbly old leaves around the house.
It is a blessing to have friends who respect each other, who are honest and open with each other,
and who trust one another.
We can trust our kids with parents who respect others.
We do not have to agree on every detail of our beliefs or our lives, but where there is mutual respect,
where there is honesty and openness and genuineness between us,
there is also trust.
The popcorn has been salted deliciously!
And their mom was out drinking in tree trunks and crumbly old leaves around the house.
and who trust one another.
We can trust our kids with parents who respect others.
We do not have to agree on every detail of our beliefs or our lives, but where there is mutual respect,
where there is honesty and openness and genuineness between us,
there is also trust.
The popcorn has been salted deliciously!
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