Archives for November 2016

10 “Safe” Topics For The Thanksgiving Table

November 22, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer Leave a Comment

So, there was an election recently. You might have heard about it.

And here we are careening to the holidays, almost to the Thanksgiving table. For some of us, this presents a challenge: Our expectation is to count our blessings over a delicious meal with friends and family. Instead, Uncle Harold and Cousin Sally would rather spew political opinions and diatribes.

This might be the year for ground rules. A challenge to pull off as a guest, but as a host or hostess- your table, your rules?

The following are “safe” topic ideas:

Kids and Seniors- If there are kids around the table (or kid table) put the spotlight on them. Ask about their interests and school. Have them share a song or poem. Have the seniors among you share stories of how they celebrated the holidays as children.
Veteran’s- I noticed on Facebook that my friends from opposing political parties all seem to be fans. Print off a story of a heroic veteran or two.
Bucket Lists- Have your table guests share theirs.
Jokes- Funny NON-political, cheesy and clean.
Inspirational Stories- It keeps the perspective positive. Check out: chickensoup.com
Sports- This is an exciting time of year for the NFL, college football, NBA and college basketball.
Beautiful places visited- Share travel stories.
Favorite books read from this past year- My personal preference! Provide paper and pens.
Goals for the New Year- New fitness or workout trends, financial or relational goals.
GRATEFULNESS- But of course! Count your many, many blessings.

Healthy boundaries and rules of engagement can make for a rich holiday celebration. Not perfect but rich and semi-peaceful.

May your table and heart be replete with Thankfulness.

Now go start cooking!

When Joy Meets Sorrow

November 15, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer 12 Comments

I am not writing today while feasting my eyes on a beautiful landscape of autumn’s delights. Nor am I wearing cute boots and a seasonal scarf. I am a southern California girl, sitting outside in shorts and bare feet, feasting my eyes on a dying lawn because I’m not allowed to water in this drought.

However, the calendar tells me it is Fall. I laugh at the contradiction of pumpkins melting on porches while warm Santa Ana winds blow. We SoCal’s drink our Pumpkin Spice Lattes as we dream of wearing socks. This is the autumn season in my world.

Eventually, the air will cool and we will wear socks again and drink our lattes without sweating. A welcome change.

Sadly, a season of unwelcome change blew into my life. Into my heart. Into my home. This intruder wreaked havoc in incalculable ways. This change flooded every area of my life, seeming unreal. Impossible.

Our financial situation reversed from stable to dire. Family members moved from happy to heartbroken. My health shifted from strong to weak. In the midst of these countless trials, we experienced grief and upsets: our beloved Golden Retriever died and my second son left for college. Nothing but change, loss, sadness and pain for months.

In childhood, when I complained about an unwelcome shift in my life, my grandpa quoted an old cliché, “the only thing constant is change”. I am in a season where this holds true. I never know what will move next. Truthfully, none of us does. Change is a guarantee. Not one of us gets a pass on pain or difficult periods. No one. Jesus promised us this in John 16:33 (NLV):

“…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, But take heart,

Because I have overcome the world.”

As a Christian, I have a choice: will I shrivel up in my pain or will I hold on to God with everything I’ve got?

In this terrible-changing season of my life, I’ve chosen/am choosing, to hold on to Jesus.

“Immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy…”

2 Corinthians 6:10 The Message

The paradox of my life these days is that I’m drowning in tears, yet filled with inexplicable joy.

I wish I could jot down an easy five-step plan. But there is no plan and it is not easy. It is messy and hard.Continue Reading

How About Going Easy?

November 4, 2016 By Kristin Saatzer 2 Comments

What if we went easy on one another?

What if the new Public Square (the internet) was a place of honest, yet respectful debate? Not the nasty and dangerous place it is today.

I’m not saying the World Wide Web is all wicked. Of course not. I find my connections mostly lovely on social media. There are oodles of interesting, respectful and thought-provoking reads. There are inspiring quotes and animal videos at every turn.

I adore a good debate on issues of importance. What I don’t adore is meanness.

How do we turn the tide? How can a guy articulate a conviction without a rash of bullies beating him up with their keyboards? How does a mom express her view without being torn down by another mom who sees it differently? When did it become a crime to disagree in America?

It is heartbreaking. The attacks come quickly. Then escalate. Words piercing through the jugular into the heart. The internet, like the “real world”, is a society of wounded humans, prideful and insecure.

Hurt People Hurt People. A cliché for sure, but true. Jesus knew this about us (wounded souls wounding others) and warned His disciples in Luke 16:37-38: