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Obviously, for whatever reason, she did not catch the drift.
• "Yes," she said as chipper as I have ever heard her chip, "I thought I would surprise you with a wonderful dish of broccoli for supper tonight, to go along with our pork chops."
• Can you live with a person for so long and not know what they like or do not like? Nobody has to be around me for five minutes before they will understand that broccoli and I have had a feud that has been going on since before the Hatfield's and McCoy's.
• "But I thought you knew I do not like broccoli?"
• "Oh, that," she said with another chuckle, "I just thought you were joking."
• Nobody jokes about broccoli, especially me.
• Then a brilliant idea reverberated between my ears. I thought I could take advantage of this situation and sneak in something forbidden in our kitchen and house for that matter, a rare delicacy.
• "I will then run to the store and get some fresh Apple Fritters for our dessert."
• I figured if she wants to put in front of me broccoli the least she can do is allow me an Apple Fritter or two.
• In a moment, all the chipper drained from her person and she looked at me and said, "Apple Fritters are not allowed in this house."
• "Let's negotiate," I said as calmly as I have ever been in my life. "I will allow you to eat broccoli tonight if you allow me an Apple Fritter for my dessert."
• I wonder if there is a husband living today, that has ever successfully negotiated with his wife.
• "This is how we will negotiate, we will have broccoli tonight without any Apple Fritter. I am only thinking of your health."
• The way she glared at me I knew negotiations were off the table at this time and in its place was some steaming broccoli.
• What I am going to do is sneak behind her back and eat two, not one but two, Apple Fritters and I will savor every bite.
• If only we could act like grownups, come together, voice our differences and strike a compromise. After all, our government works that way.
• I thought about this and came to a certain conclusion. The Christian life is not really negotiating your preference but rather honoring Christ. Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20 KJV).
• When self is at the center of my negotiations, Christ is never honored.
• Rev. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com.