En Garde

Once upon a time there was a Mom and a seven year old boy who came home from school grumpy and determined to drive everyone in the house crazy with frustration.  He summoned all of his 7 yr old skills and put them to good work.  First he fought with his little sister and then he disrespected his mother.  During dinner, he talked back and was rude to his older sister (exchange student).  All evening he parried and thrust his little sword of contention in a fencing match to rival the ages. 

The little boy's father was not around to tag team in the duel with his mother so that she did not go insane.  Capital punishment was illegal.  Finally, when everyone was in the car ready to go out that evening to the church for young women, and scouts, that mother had had enough.

Everyone was buckled in their seats and the boy made another attempt at discord.  The mother lost it.  For ten minutes they argued, she scolded, he growled back his answers and rolled his eyes.  Then a voice in the mother's head said that this contention was not holy and that she was contributing as much to it as her son was.  Touche.

She stopped and took a deep breath.  She smiled at her son and asked him to smile at her.  She said she did not like all this fighting and that it made the spirit in their home go away.  The boy's armor of discontent melted away and he agreed.  She asked him to say a prayer for them all, to ask that Heavenly Father grant them the spirit in their home again.

While he prayed, the mother felt the spirit come back and she was thankful.  She heard it tell her to change tactics and to talk of love.  All the way to the church the family played the "I love you because..." game that she made up.  Every person got to say something they loved about everyone else and then got to hear why others loved them.  The mother's heart was filled with peace.

Once everyone in the car had received their words of love, they called the father, and shared with him what they loved about him.  Their family was whole again despite his distance. 

Match Point: The Lord.