GENTLE FEELINGS - November 30, 2006
This is a family season of the
year, although, after observing Calhoun people,
every season seems to be a family season! Even
families, because they are so close, have times
when hurtful things might be said. One of my
children has a motto on their wall that says:
“Feelings are gentle, handle with care!
A friend sent the following
story to me and it seemed to prepare my attitude
for the holidays. I thought it might help you,
too. Families can be our best friends. I have
all kinds of families . . .
relatives, co-workers, church, former students,
neighbors -- the list goes on. It really seems
that no one has to be alone.
“There once was a little boy who
had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of
nails and told him that every time he lost his
temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of
the fence. The first day, the boy had driven 37
nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks,
as he learned to control his anger, the number
of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper
than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally, the day came when the
boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his
father about it and the father suggested that
the boy now pull out one nail for each day that
he was able to hold his temper. The days passed
and the young boy was finally able to tell his
father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the
hand and led him to the fence. He said, ‘You
have done well, my son, but look at the holes in
the fence. The fence will never be the same.
When you say things in anger, they leave a scar
just like this one. You can put a knife in a man
and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times
you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. A
verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make
you smile and encourage you to succeed. They
lend an ear, they share words of praise and they
always want to open their hearts to us’.”
FAMILIES ARE FOREVER.
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I am sharing a recipe from our
family each week until Christmas. Usually, it
will be a very quick choice. These have been
tested several times at our family gatherings.
We were searching for a new way
to serve green beans and “Great Greek Green
Beans” was the requested recipe for each get
together. A small jar of pimentos can be
substituted for the roasted red peppers.
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 tsp. oregano, crushed
1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
2 16 oz. green beans, drained
1/2 cup feta cheese
1 cup roasted red peppers, do not drain
Sauté onion and garlic in olive
oil. Add remaining ingredients, stir together.
Heat thoroughly, about 10 minutes.
Serves 6; calories, 84; prep
time, 15 minutes.