BUSY IN THE KITCHEN

When I came home from work today Jeff had been dropped off by his staff at 3:30 and was watching some TV and Ann was in her room watching TV. I was a little late due to stopping at Liberty Station to pick up the keys for my new car that has been in the shop sense I got it two weeks ago! (blog to follow!) I said hello to everyone, asked how their day was and began to make some supper for all of us. The plan was fish, hash browns and green beans. I got the fish in the oven and the hash browns frying - - decided that I might as well fry up the hamburger for the bbq's for Saturday,went down in the basement to get up some supplies.
... busy in the kitchen not paying much attention to anything -
Jeff comes into the kitchen and he has the newspaper neatly folded back with the daily puzzle on top. He asked me if I have a pen and I tell him there is one on the microwave.
...busy in the kitchen - however, I started paying a little more attention to what he was going to be doing.

Jeff says "I am just going to work this puzzle for awhile to give me something to do until supper."
I say "Okay, that is a great idea" (I am starting to really get curious now but I am still
....busy in the kitchen.

I get supper ready, and prepare the plates for everyone. I set his plate by him and he moves the newspaper a little to the left so he can eat and still have the puzzle by him. Getting the other plates ready, everyone starts eating. As I am
...busy in the kitchen - I look over at the table.

It is at this moment that I really look at what Jeff is doing. He takes a few bites of his food, sets down his fork, reads the clue, crosses it out and then fills in some boxes with an X. He notices I am looking at his puzzle and says
"some of these are pretty hard so I just fill in the spaces with X's"

Ann innocently tells him "yes, those newspaper puzzles are real hard, but they have books with easier ones in them."

"They do?, where do you get them at?" (he stops eating for a minuet and looks up at her.)

"Usually you can find them at the dollar store, I will see if I can find you one"
"Oh, okay that would be good"

Still standing by the kitchen sink looking at them I am filled with this great sense of joy.
...busy in the kitchen, I realized I have witnessed one of the greatest miracles of the day.

A brother who can not read or write, attempting with great thinking to do the daily crossword puzzle. A friend by his side giving him encouragement to continue on the task at hand even if it is hard... she will help him figure it out.

...busy in the kitchen I help them clean up supper and they go on with their day.

I stop what I am doing and look at the puzzle...
and I am amazed by the neat X's and how articulately the clue's are crossed out. It is beautiful as I look at it, I understand that the joy inside me is a gift from God to me, and He gently whispered to my soul...
" before you is all you need, you just have to slow down, stop being so busy and see what I see."

and I whisper back...
"Thank-you sweet Jesus"