The Shoe Box

There was once a man and woman who had been married for more than 60
years. They talked about everything. They kept no secrets from each
other except that the old woman had a shoe box in the top of her
closet that she cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all these years he had never thought about the box, but one day
the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not
recover. In trying to sort out their affairs the little old man took
down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that
it was time he should know what was in the box.

When he opened it he found 2 crocheted doilies and a stack of money
totaling $25,000. He asked her about the contents.. "When we were
married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy
marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry
with you, I should just! keep quiet and crochet a doily.

The little old man was so moved: he had to fight back tears. Only 2
precious doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him 2
times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with
happiness.

"Honey", he said, "that explains the doilies, but what about all this
money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the doilies."

A prayer:

I pray for wisdom to understand my man,
Love to forgive him, and patience for his moods.
Because, Lord, if I pray for strength,
I'll beat him to death.