Stupid Head

Several years ago, my family and I were eating at a local restaurant. All I wanted was a salad. I’d been thinking about it all day…already had it planned in my head…and could almost taste each bite just thinking about it. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this.)

I grazed through the salad bar, strategically placing the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese…and so on…you get the picture—until I had the “perfect salad.”

It was beautiful.

As I sat down at the table, I placed my napkin in my lap and grabbed my fork, ready to begin the feast. The rest of my family had ordered their food and began to eat, as well.

My daughter, Lindsay, who sat across from me, picked up her fork and noticed a small patch of dried food on the handle.

“Gross!” she muttered. “There’s food on my fork!”

“Oh, wipe if off.” I said. “It’s just on the handle.” (Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this.)

She began to pick at it with her fingernail.

Just as I was about to take a bite of my beautiful masterpiece, I looked up to see Lindsay flick the bit of dried food from her fork. As if in slow motion, it propelled to the wall and ricocheted—you guessed it— smack dab in the middle of my salad!

I couldn’t believe what had just happened. My salad…my beautiful, masterpiece salad…ruined! And I hadn’t even gotten to taste it yet!

As I sat in disbelief looking at my tarnished mound of happy, my eyes began to squint and jaw tighten. Before I could even think clearly, my squinted eyes veered across the table at my daughter and I spewed the words, “You Stupid Head!”

Now, let me take a moment and say that I don’t ever recall calling my kids names, and I have never in my life even said the word “Stupid Head”—ever. I have no idea where it came from. I couldn’t help it…it just flew subconsciously out of my mouth. Lindsay said fire shot out of my eyes, too, but I think she’s embellishing just a little.

What happened in the next few moments was priceless.

Wide-eyed, Lindsay looked at her brother, Mathew—then back at me—then at her dad. And as if planned, the three of them harmoniously burst into a guffaw of laughter. And then I whole-heartedly joined them.

It was beautiful.

Being called “Stupid Head” is now considered a term of endearment in our family.

This should be my life’s motto:

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

God really does do great things for us. Just the fact that He created laughter is soothing to the soul.

Enjoy each moment—and laugh—the rest of your life.