“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.”

With the holiday season just about to get underway, families and friends will be gathering to celebrate and enjoy one another’s company—hopefully. I just saw a story about a young woman who has decided that her goal at her family’s gathering is to shame those who voted for a different person than she did. The story made me incredibly sad. I look forward to those few times each year when my entire family gathers. All my grandchildren (affectionately called “the cousins”) are together. None, not one, of them cares who might like a certain politician. They don’t know the politicians, but they know and love each other. They have so many stories to share about this past year’s adventures in new grades, with new friends, and all kinds of discoveries in their growing lives. They enjoy watching their parents revisit times from their own childhoods and laughing together. They also watch as their parents share the hard things from the past year, knowing they are safe with each other because their history and love go deep. They do love the fun food too. However, if they had less food, even if it was only sandwiches and chips, they would still treasure each moment with each other. Solomon’s point. Today, celebrate lives and their stories. #BeTheEdge

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus