When I was a kid…my mom liked to make food for breakfast and for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made dinner after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night...I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired...And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!”

You know…life is full of imperfect things……and imperfect people. I’m not the best at hardly anything and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults – and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences – is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship. Learn to take the good, the bad and the difficult parts of your life and take them for what they are worth. Because in the end, a burnt biscuit isn’t a deal–breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband–wife or parent–child or friendship!

"Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket…keep it in your own." So please pass me a biscuit and yes…the burnt one will do just fine. Life is too short to wake up with regrets.