aid and comfort minion-style

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us^{( B)} in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,^(C) so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶ If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation;^(D) if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

2 Corinthians 1: 3 -6 (NIV)

Earlier this evening, the patriarch and matriarch of this Minion party, were discussing among our Bible study group, the blessings of comfort that our Lord God and Savior have lavished on us during our times of stress,  pain or suffering.  Each of our group acknowledged that everyone has faced some suffering, and each have received comfort, from God, through answered prayer, faithful friends, and faithful endurance to carry forward.  In all of this we have lessons and encouragement to comfort others with the same we have received.  We have been able to comfort believers and non-believers just by being willing to listen and patient.   Some of the examples of comfort we can share with others is that which we have seen in our children’s’ willingness to help us and each other.  One of these times was evident tonight. 

There’s nothing that restores my wife’s spirits, like the Christmas season: trees, decorations,  making her signature peanut butter ball treats, and having family close to home.  Mostly, this is kicked off with lights and Minion inflatables going up in our yard.  It bolsters our family unity when our children come from afar (Orange County) to help one another.   Our son came after dark tonight with an express purpose:  to put up our yard Christmas decorations.   In the last several days, most of our neighborhood had their decorations already up. I had this on my to-do list but the kids told me that they would get it done instead.   I had been working on appliance installations, car maintenance and just getting to and from work.  Walking Comet and Dexter haphazardly either evening or morning lately, the dogs were trying to make me less self-conscious of my empty yard by pee on neighboring Snoopys and  reindeer in the neighbors’ yards yesterday morning. It made for a much less enjoyable walk for either dog.