The Moral of the Story -- Cindy Trane Christeson

“After God created the world, He made man and woman. Then, to keep the

whole thing from collapsing, He invented humor.”

-- Guillermo Mordillo

I had a fun and delicious lunch with good friends recently. We started

with salads and stories of our lives since we’d last met. We explained

what we wanted each other to help pray for. We also happily told ways God

answered other prayers.

When we were about to share dessert, I said something that quieted a

normally chatty group. “Can you please tell me something dumb that you’ve

done lately,” I asked.

My friends put their forks down in unison and looked at me with

momentary blank stares.

“I know we aren’t dumb, but I want to know if I’m the only one who has

done things that seem like the result of brain overload,” I said.

What followed were great stories that had us in hysterics, and they

merit mention in a future column. I’m sure God was laughing right along

with us.

“It’s not that we don’t have brains, we all just have too much on

them,” one friend said.

The giggles and laughter were contagious, but so were the confessions.

Then they looked at me, waiting to hear what sparked my original

question.

I explained that last week I went to a gas station I don’t frequent

often. Just as I was going to push the correct gas button, my brother

drove by. I called for him to stop, ran back, pushed the gas button, put

the nozzle on automatic and went to talk to him.

After he left and my tank was full, I put everything away. I was about

to push another button for the receipt when an attendant came out and

asked, “Do you know what you just put into your tank?”

“Oh, no. What did I do? I really like my car. I didn’t hurt it, did

I?”

He saw my eyes widen as I saw the price on the pump. He explained that

I’d just filled my tank with racing gas, which would hurt my pocketbook,

but not my engine.

“Besides, you don’t have to tell anyone,” the attendant said nicely.

“And miss out on a good laugh, even if it is at my expense?” I

answered.

I then called Jason, a service representative at the car dealership,

and started the message by giving him permission to laugh at me. I

explained the situation and asked what to do. I detected a muffled giggle

on his return message.

Jason checked with six different mechanics and said, “They thanked you

for a good laugh as well but said your engine is fine. I wouldn’t mind

taking it out of your car and putting it into my motorcycle. That gas is

expensive, you know. It’s almost $5 a gallon.”

I thanked him for reminding me.

There is a proverb that says: “A happy heart is good medicine and a

cheerful mind works healing.”

By the last bite of dessert, my heart definitely felt better. My

friends enjoyed a good laugh as well, and I hope you did too. There is

freedom in confession, and laughter is cleansing for the soul. And you

can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at o7

cindy@onthegrow.comf7 or through the mail at P.O. Box 6140-No. 505,

Newport Beach, CA 92658.