Sunday, November 24, 2002
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Sunday, November 24, 2002 |
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Thanksgiving Dinner
(Well, Sort Of) By: Daniel Overdorf
You know the scene. The family sits around the table. Dad carves the turkey, his three-piece suit starched and pressed. With great precision he sharpens the knife, slices through the bird like butter, then with a quick movement of the wrists flips the slice onto a waiting platter. All the while Dad laughs and teases Jane, his daughter who sits to his left. Jane's face turns an embarrassed crimson, then she folds her hands lady-like in her lap. Her hair is pulled back in a bun, and her old-fashioned flowery dress is spotless. Jeff sits across the table from Jane. With a laugh he defends his older sibling, "Aw, Dad. Quit fooling with Sissy." Jeff sits with perfect posture probably more a result of the starched collar of his white shirt than a desire to be mannerly. Though, by most counts, Jeff minds his etiquette. Then there's Mom. She scurries about, relaying the steaming dishes from kitchen to dining room. With feminine grace she simultaneously delivers the mashed potatoes, refills everyone's sweet tea, and fixes the wayward strand that escaped from her daughter's hairdo. Like a ballerina she swoops to and fro, apron twirling in the wind. The scene comes straight from "Leave It To Beaver" or "Father Knows Best." And, I'm certain, it describes your family's Thanksgiving dinner. Right? Well, maybe not exactly. Let me try again. Dad's in sweatpants watching football. He yells for Jane to get off the phone "That thing is gonna attach itself to your ear!" She sticks out her tongue at him, proudly displaying her tongue ring. It glistens by the light of the TV. Jeff and Mom are fighting. What about? Who knows. It's always something his girlfriend (Mom says she dresses like a tramp), her cooking (Jeff says he's tired of Chinese takeout and pizza), or various other daily battles. Around noon they pause long enough to wolf down some turkey and dressing. Throw in a little gravy, then a pecan pie from the bakery, and it's Thanksgiving dinner (well, sort of). The food tastes good, but Dad's anxious to get back to the ball game, Jane to her phone call, and Mom and Jeff to their bickering. It's less "Leave It To Beaver," more "Roseanne." All these new developments aren't necessarily wrong. I'm not campaigning against tongue rings, and I enjoy watching a little football on Thanksgiving Day (though I usually save the sweatpants for after dinner). The bakery makes awfully good pecan piesI'm all for saving my wife the time and trouble. Can I suggest one thing, though? One attribute of a bygone era that I believe we'd do well to reclaim? Manners. That's it. My only gripe. Manners. The Bible teaches, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6). Isn't that a great mantra for relationships, particularly family relationships? You see, I don't mind tongue piercings, as long as Jane says "please" before "pass the salt." Family squabbles are inevitableif I remember right, even the Beav and June were at odds now and then. But amidst their disagreement Jeff should never raise his voice to his mother, nor say anything that dishonors her. And Mom, remember during this disagreement with Jeff that respect goes both ways. Dad, go ahead and enjoy the ballgame, but mute the volume so you can talk with your family. Volunteer to do the dishes during commercials and halftime. Please. Thank You. Excuse me. Yes sir, No sir. Yes ma'am, No ma'am. Not difficult words. But they make a big difference at the dinner table. And, the medical community hasn't yet corroborated my theory, but I believe such manners make turkey easier to digest. Daniel Overdorf is the sernior minister of Fayetteville Christian Church, located at New Hope and Hickory Roads in Fayetteville. He may be heard each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as a part of the church's weekly worship. Daniel may be contacted at the church office 770-461-8763 or fayettevillechristian@juno.com.
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