lessons from a cockroach

I know, I know, call me crazy! Go ahead, it won't hurt my feelings, I'm tough...besides, I can't hear you anyway. So, let me explain. First, I do not have a roach problem. Second, yes, I think they're gross. Especially the ones that we had to coexist with on Moloka'i. They were affectionately referred to as 747s if that helps you understand how big they were...and yes, they could fly. Eewww, that gives me the heebee-geebees just thinking about it. I digress. Third, I got this great book at the library on the "new books" shelf. I had to get it. The title grabbed my attention and the illustrations were fabulous. I'm a sucker for great illustrations. The title of the book is Martina the Beautiful Cockroach-A Cuban Folktale by Carmen Agra Deedy...illustrations by Michael Austin. In this folktale Martine Cucaracha (*hee hee*) is ready to choose a husband and her Cuban grandmother offers some bizarre advice. The Coffee Test. Upon the arrival of each suitor (there were many because she was so beautiful) Martina was to accidentally spill hot coffee on their shoes. The suitor's reaction to her in his anger would prove how he would end up treating her as a wife. Needless to say, after many suitors failed the coffee test she eventually found a wonderful husband in an unexpected place...and he also had a Cuban grandmother, so he spilled coffee on her shoes first! :o) Such a simple story, enjoyed by both of my girls, but with threads of profound truth woven into each suitor's character. Crazy, I know, but I really enjoyed this book even thought the main characters were cockroaches. And if you've got kids that love to read or love to be read to, you should check out this book. Plus, since Miss O is always pretending to get married it led to a great discussion about how husbands should treat their wives and how wives should treat their husbands. I know she's only 5 years old, but when the opportunity arises to instill Godly principles of marriage, I'm all over it!