Thanksgiving - A Survival Guide for Guys

Thanksgiving. A time to stuff oneself with pink marshmallow jello (you may insert your own specialty foods), olives, cranberry goop, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, rolls and turkey all smothered in gravy. I might eat a small bite of lettuce just to round out the meal and win an approving glance from my wife. I have learned from my vast years of experience that the proper dress code is a nice, clean dress shirt (wife nods in approval again) sweats and fake fur-lined slippers (note of caution – slip into your designated seat while she is mashing the potatoes, cover with napkin and she will never be the wiser). Sitting at the table you look like a model for Norman Rockwell (wife smiles at you) with the comfort of no belts, buttons or zippers to restrict your expanding mid-section while the slippers warm your feet since all your blood has rushed to your digestive system.

Thanksgiving. A time to sit around the big screen and watch Lions, Cowboys and sometimes Bears Oh, My, exercise for you, as you become one with your lazyboy recliner. Or if you are the adventurous family guy you might play a game with the kids in the house (wife gives approving smile). Take caution - this year you might find yourself engaged in a competitive battle with their latest video games. Now video games are not what we know them to be: low brain activity and near death vitals imitating a comatose state.

“Hey is Scotty dead on the couch?”
“No, he just past level 23 on the Castles of Morander on planet Vitriols…look he just found the Portals of Squidish”.
Stuffing Cheetos in his mouth, “Dude, that’s wicked”.

To be victorious over your nine-year-old, and show them who is the original video game master (Lord DumbleDork of Morander), you must thrash your arms wildly while holding the controllers (yes two controllers), dance in place like John Travolta, or engage in battle like you were swatting flies. Any of those three motions done with the concentration of Viswanathan Anand (you know, the reigning World Chess Champion) and intensity of Mike Singletary (another Bear, Oh My), and you will be victorious! Ok, snap out of your fantasy, the truth is even your 5-year-old will crush you at any of these games. Get used to it, your video gaming skills are hampered by 80’s technology, a single joystick with one red button.

“Look Daddy, my pink kitten just knocked you out of the ring again. giggle, giggle”
With sweat rings forming under your arms, “Stupid controller. Where’s the red button?”

Thanksgiving. Seriously guys…a time to give thanks for your family and God’s provision. How to survive Thanksgiving is to remember all that is good presently and in your past - to see God’s hand of blessing on your life. You work hard, you plan for the future, you worry about your kids, you try to have a good relationship with your wife and still it seems you can barely keep your head above the water. Life is a struggle and at times life pulls us under (loss of a job, bankruptcy, marriage strife, declining health). We can easily become discouraged, disheartened and lose our zeal and optimism of God’s plan for us. Thanksgiving is our opportunity to be encouraged. God is leading you as a Husband, Father and Man and He provides, protects and guides us through all life seasons. Look up and see God’s hands keeping your head above the water, His gifts of family and friends, grace, mercy, blessings and provision…and give thanks.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 5:20 NLT

Happiness is a Hug

I had just finished my Jr. High book club class for our homeschool co-op. As I was walking down the hall reflecting on our discussion and the great students I had this term, I followed a group of preschoolers headed to their bathroom break. I trailed behind. One little boy spotted me, turned and made a bee line straight toward me. I stopped in my tracks as he wrapped his arms around my leg and gave me a gentle hug. Immediately 5-6 other little preschoolers turned and did the same. I had leg warmers on both legs. Not one of them said a word, giggled or anything. After a few high fives and return hugs, they rejoined their class in line. As I left and drove home, I continued to think on their unexpected, undirected and simple loving act. A smile drifted across my face.

I felt happy as I was given a beautiful gift by half-a-dozen three to four-year-olds who I didn’t know. I wasn’t their teacher or parent, but am recognizable as leading the chapel devotions. I don’t know what compelled the first boy to give me an unexpected hug, but it certainly influenced the others around him…and it affected me. I thought of the power of a simple loving act like a hug, and the influence of the initiative of one. A few “hug” quotes I found illustrate the power of this simple gift:

A hug delights and warms and charms,
That must be why God gave us arms. – Author Unknown

You can't wrap love in a box,
but you can wrap a person in a hug. ~Author Unknown

A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it's easy to exchange. ~Author Unknown

The influence of one. One little boy made a decisive, deliberate act to hug and it was multiplied by six. I wonder if there are lessons for us in this story? As a busy adult with many things running through my mind, responsibilities, work, bills, etc., and with a number of time consuming distractions: reading, internet, TV, fantasy football, do I ever pause and spontaneously act to encourage another. Sometimes…but how many times have I missed such opportunities to give a gift of love to someone who needed it. Maybe a spouse who is having a difficult day, a child not feeling well, a lonely grandparent, or a friend carrying a heavy burden needs your hug today. As a bonus, your act of love may influence others and be multiplied. John reveals to us, the family of God, the foundational principle of this gift:

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:11

You may not have the answer to someone’s need or change circumstances, but an unexpected hug may be just the precious gift they need today...to feel loved.

Deep Rooted Infected and Decayed

Sitting in the dentist chair I felt the beads of sweat slide down past my ear onto my neck as I gripped the arm rest. My nostrils filled with the smell of burnt enamel and bone as the drill dug away at my decayed tooth. As the dentist pulled, twisted, and yanked on my broken tooth I heard tooth crunch, and roots break…inside my head. Fortunately I couldn’t taste anything because my tongue after multiple anesthesia injections was like a sea slug resting on the bottom of the ocean floor. My dentist, who earlier appeared to be a kind, gentle man, was now engaged in a full battle of strength and will against a dug-in, stubborn tooth. As I occasionally opened my eyes I saw the battle stare of my dentist engage with the enemy. If the Russians, Chinese, Moldavians, or any other country attack Oregon, I will bunker down with my dentist. I kept my eyes closed till the dentist said “Okay, let’s sit you up Mr. Kooeeti-wits…all done…tooth out.”, while he was gasping for breath.

After two hours in the dentist chair, I felt like I was a Bronco’s linebacker getting pummeled by the Raiders. As I stood at the counter paying for my facial reconstruction, the dentist looked at me and said, “Are you ok?” I replied in a post traumatic daze “yabba, id tink idam oday”. Translation: “I don’t know who you are, or where I am, but I want to get out of here.”

I had no idea what I was getting into that day when I willingly agreed to a tooth extraction. My dentist made it sound like it was no big deal, but to me, as I readily admit to being one of the biggest babies ever to sit in a dentist chair, it was a big deal. Why did a simple procedure turn into an epic battle of dentist vs. tooth? Two reasons, this tooth had long deep roots anchored in the bone and it was infected and decayed.

As I look at a parallel to our spiritual walk in Christ, I see that there are deep rooted issues that are infected and cause decay in our lives. We may have issues of: habitual sin, deep offenses that are hidden beneath the surface, character weaknesses, pride, unforgiveness and pain. Like a deep rooted, infected tooth me may ignore it for some time, but eventually it will cause such pain and discomfort it affects our whole body and could lead to a spread of infection. As I willingly submit myself to pain in the dentist chair, we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit to reveal, remove and heal this infected issue in our lives. Often that is a difficult process for us for it involves facing the truth of the infection, humility, repentance and persistent obedience. The divine result is victory, health, freedom from pain, and wholeness in Christ.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. – I Peter 2:24

Today only a few days removed from the extraction, I can open my jaw normally and chew most foods without discomfort, and I have peace knowing this infection is removed. Thanks Mr. Dentist.