This time of year, I love to
watch the Thanksgiving holiday film, “Home For the Holidays.”
It humorously
captures the family dysfunction and stress as its female lead, Claudia, dreads
spending time with her parents and siblings.
This dread prompts Claudia’s
daughter to offer some calming advice, based on a snorkeling vacation, “Remember
the Angelfish… Just float.”
With much emphasis on turkey
dinners this holiday, there has not been a lot of attention to other birds. And
forget about fish!
Yet, what struck me, as I watched
this film, was the connection between fish and birds when it came to possessing
a calm spirit in the face of anxious, emotion-filled circumstances, known as
family holidays.
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow
not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father
feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you
by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature. And why take ye thought
for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not,
neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Matthew
6:26-29
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings,
and not one of them is forgotten before God?”
Luke 12:6
“Now when he
had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down
your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have
toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will
let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude
of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which
were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and
filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”
Luke 5:4-7
What do these scriptures have in
common? The directive given is to not worry about the situations- family
included- in our lives.
"Don't be afraid;
just believe."
Mark 5:36
I know; it’s easier said than
done. But the reality check of possibility is still there, nonetheless.
It’s reassurance, given to us,
over and over again. Let’s take a look at a storm situation, once upon a time…
“And when he was entered into a ship, his
disciples followed him.
And, behold,
there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with
the waves: but he was asleep.
And his
disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us: we perish.’
And he saith unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful,
O ye of little faith?’ Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and
there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:26
Great calm…
Ah, if only, right? If only that could extend to our
relatives, to those special people who seem to have a talent in pushing all
kinds of volatile personal upset buttons!
But God has promised to help us…
“Fear thou not; for I am with
thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will
help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10
“God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.”
Psalms 46:1
“Storms,” after all, are a subjective thing
for us, right?
Therefore, these scriptures mean
the equivalent of our film’s famous line, “Just float.”
Need some help floating this
holiday season? We all do.
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered...”
Joel 2:32
So, please, as you make your way
through these holidays, jam-packed with stressful gatherings and challenging
people, call on that important name… and remember the Angelfish. Just float.
Copyright © 2015 by Sheryle Cruse
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