I’ve always been a patient person. I got to practice my patience when my father remarried following my mom’s death. So, when my in-laws tried to get me to break up with my husband before we could get married, I just used what I had learned earlier in life to withstand their onslaught.
You know, sometimes trying to find your place in someone else’s family can be really tricky. At least, it was for me when I met my husband’s family. See, I’m originally from Morocco, while my husband, Jeremy, was raised by an extremely conservative family from Georgia. That should be enough to give you an idea of what I faced.
Man and woman on a date | Source: Getty Images
I immigrated to the US shortly after my mother passed away. I was 11 at the time, and it felt like my entire world was coming to an end. To add to this, my dad married a new woman only a little over a year after Mom’s death. Naturally, adjusting to life in a new country and coming to terms that there was a new woman in my mom’s place was jarring.
My stepmom wasn’t a bad person, but we never got along. I think she felt insecure about the fact that she could never have kids, so she would often be mean and distant toward my sister and me. She used to try to upset us all the time by doing petty things that she knew would make us uncomfortable, but luckily my mom had taught me to always smile when people were intentionally being mean to me.
A young girl in an airplane | Source: Getty Images
This turned out to be a great defense mechanism, and my stepmom couldn’t bear that her tricks weren’t working on me. Eventually, things died down and we made our peace, but I would never forget how effective it was to just smile through whatever petty new ploy she had devised to try and upset me. It truly was one of the greatest gifts my mom had ever given me.
But my stepmom was a minor hindrance compared to Jeremy’s family. When I met them for the first time, I knew I was in for a lengthy cold war.
A woman yelling at a young girl | Source: Getty Images
I met Leona, Jeremy’s mom, and the rest of the Fergus family at one of their family dinners. By that time, I had been dating Jeremy for almost a year, and they had used every excuse to avoid inviting me to their dinners. This time, Jeremy ensured that they couldn’t weasel out of meeting me, and he even told his mom to prepare a few dishes that I could eat, since I steer clear of any pork and alcohol.
While my loving boyfriend was sure there would be something for me, I knew better than to just blindly trust people who clearly had misgivings about me to respect my personal choices, so I ate as I would before a fast and prepared myself for sitting around the dinner table while everyone enjoyed their meal.
A large dinner table with people sitting around it | Source: Getty Images
When we showed up at Jeremy’s parents’ house, the family greeted me with half-hearted smiles and quick hugs before we all settled down to eat. I knew the greetings would be awkward and stiff, but what I didn’t anticipate was Leona bringing a peppy blonde woman up to me with a huge smile and saying, “Oh, Aleah, you just have to meet Diane, Jeremy’s last girlfriend. We’re all still very close and I thought you two might hit it off.”
Diane looked slightly embarrassed, and shook my hand with a smile that seemed to say, “I’m sorry, I know, but what could I do?” I introduced myself and we exchanged a few pleasantries before she greeted Jeremy with a huge hug. She immediately launched into a conversation with him about what was going on in his life, ignoring me completely. Jeremy answered a few questions, grabbed my hand, and steered me to our seats.
A woman shaking another woman’s hand | Source: Getty Images
At the table, things just got worse. Leona opened all the dishes, and every single thing had pork in it. The mac and cheese had bacon bits in, the mashed potatoes had lard in, and even the turkey was wrapped in bacon. After unveiling all the food, Jeremy’s mom looked at me, apologized for all the pork, and offered me a drink. “I don’t drink, but I’ll gladly take a glass of water,” I said with a smile. Slightly crestfallen, Leona got up to get me one.
During the meal, the entire family kept making off-handed, passive-aggressive, and slightly racist comments clearly directed toward me. Meanwhile, Diane was showered with compliments. You’d expect she was royalty with how the family sucked up to her. But I knew exactly how to handle the situation.
A woman enjoying a glass of water | Source: Getty Images
Instead of letting my annoyance show, I once again employed my mom’s wisdom. I smiled at every so-called joke, and even threw a few of my own compliments at Diane. I told Leona how lovely the spread looked, and thanked her profusely when she went to refill my cup of water. I could see Jeremy’s mom seething at my pleasant demeanor.
The night ended and we said our goodbyes. I refrained from complaining to Jeremy about his family. I could handle it. But things didn’t get better from there. Family dinners were suddenly off-limits to anyone who wasn’t also a Fergus — although Diane was apparently an exception — so I would often spend Christmas on my own or with my sister. They never drove a wedge between myself and Jeremy, and imagine their shock when he eventually proposed.
Two sisters celebrating Christmas together | Source: Getty Images
Now, Leona and the rest of the family never bothered to learn anything about my culture. They assumed the wedding would be a regular ceremony, but Jeremy and I had planned on blending traditions. So when all the women, Diane included, showed up wearing white, I was all smiles, complimenting their outfits all the way. This didn’t go down well.
Meanwhile, my outfits were made up of every color imaginable, and I outshone them in every photo. There’s even one picture of Leona with the biggest sour expression I had ever seen. It was a wonderful day.
A traditional wedding dress | Source: Getty Images
But the unspoken feud came to a head last Christmas when Leona suggested I host. Naturally, I accepted, even though I knew she only offered because she hoped I would be overwhelmed. Fortunately, she didn’t count on the fact that I often cooked, and had been since I was a young girl. So my spread was something to marvel at.
Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, turkey, glazed ham, Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, roasted carrots, and potatoes, freshly baked bread, corn bread, and an entire assortment of pies. Even I was impressed. But of course, with her plan in ruins, Leona did the next best thing. She started shouting at me.
A big dinner | Source: Getty Images
“You’ve got to be kidding me! How could you of all people have managed this?! I know you hired a catering company, Aleah! Just to make me look bad. Admit it!”
Surprised at her outright anger, I looked at her, then at Jeremy. Luckily he stepped in.
“Mom, Aleah slaved away for two days to make sure we had a great Christmas dinner. I don’t think you acting like this is very mature or fair. She has been nothing but a good host, and you accuse her of being petty, like a child who had hoped to one-up someone. I think you owe her an apology, or you should leave.”
There was a long pause. Everyone wondered what would happen next, plates in hand.
A woman cooking dinner | Source: Getty Images
Leona took a deep breath and looked at me. “You won,” she muttered and sat down dejectedly. Before Jeremy could say another word, I walked over to my mother-in-law, got on my knees before her, and took her hands in mine. “Leona, this isn’t a competition. I love your son deeply and I don’t want this cold war between us.”
She looked at me with new-found respect, and I could see the hatchet was buried. The war between us ended with a big hug and a great dinner, and although we still differ about things, we have grown quite fond of each other over the last few months.
A man saves a stray dog that had fallen into the ice, leading him to a lost family inheritance
John had a mission to find a long-lost family heirloom. After rescuing a dog that was about to drown, he discovered much more than just the family inheritance.
John had settled in an old cabin searching for a long-lost family treasure: a gold medallion bearing the family coat of arms. He spent his days working online and his evenings studying antiques on various specialized websites, hoping to find the medallion.
His grandfather cherished the medallion, which he had received from his father years ago. He often spoke about it with great nostalgia. So, John decided to find it.
However, that day wasn’t about work or family. On that particularly cold winter day, all John wanted was to enjoy a day of fishing. As he prepared his hook on the cabin porch, he suddenly heard a faint bark coming from the lake.
At first, John ignored the bark, but as it turned into desperate whimpering, he became worried and decided to check what was happening.
“You really are a lucky dog,” John said, pausing with a sudden realization. “Yes… I think that’s what I’ll call you. Lucky.”
As he approached the lake, he saw a Labrador that had fallen into the ice, struggling to stay afloat. John immediately returned to the cabin, grabbed a rope, and rushed back to the lake. He quickly fashioned a lasso and caught the dog, pulling her from the freezing water. The dog shivered, helpless, and appeared to have an injured paw.
John quickly wrapped her in a blanket and brought her home. He warmed her by the fireplace, fed her, and treated her wounds.
“Poor thing. You’ve been through so much. How could anyone abandon something so beautiful?” John said as he cared for the dog, who soon fell asleep.
“You really are a lucky dog,” John said again, this time with a warm smile. “Yes… that’s your name now. Lucky.” The dog gave a soft bark, as if in agreement with her new name.
From that moment, John decided to keep Lucky as his companion. Over the weeks, John continued his search for the family heirloom.
What made the search particularly difficult was that he wasn’t exactly sure what he was looking for. Some family members said it was a gold medallion, others a pendant. The only thing they all agreed on was that it bore the family emblem.
The last connection to the lost family inheritance was a pouch with an embroidered family crest, which was where the relic had been kept until it disappeared, according to his grandfather. John tirelessly pursued his quest night after night. Every evening, he scoured antique photos but found no clues. And every evening, Lucky sat by his side for company.
One night, after another fruitless search, John lost his temper. While sitting at his desk, examining data as usual, he suddenly stood up and threw the pouch to the floor. He placed his hands against the wall, trying to calm down and brace himself.
“I’m done! This is hopeless! I’ll never find that stupid thing!” John shouted in frustration. Lucky whimpered sympathetically, sensing her new master’s distress. Feeling Lucky’s concern, John began to pet her. “Sorry, Lucky. I’ve had enough. I don’t want to search anymore. Besides, I’m not alone now. I’ve got you. I won’t waste more time on this nonsense. From now on, it’s just you and me.”
John examined Lucky’s injuries, which were nearly healed. “Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll teach you a few tricks. How does that sound?” John asked, to which Lucky responded with enthusiastic barking and a wagging tail.
“I think the better question is, what are you doing in my cabin?”
A week later, Lucky had fully recovered, and John began taking her for walks in the forest near the lake. But Lucky kept trying to run off into the woods.
As the situation worsened, John began to fear that one day she would run off and get hurt or lost. So he decided to cut back on the walks and instead play and train with Lucky at home.
One evening, while lying in bed, John decided to resume his search. He opened his laptop and searched online for clues about the family relic. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lucky dragging the jewelry pouch into the bed John had prepared for her.
“No, Lucky!” John commanded, jumping out of bed. “Bring it here,” he said, trying to take it from Lucky. But she didn’t let go, holding it tightly in her teeth.
Suddenly, Lucky bolted toward the door, pouch in mouth, and whined to be let outside. John thought Lucky just wanted to play, so he opened the door, hoping to retrieve the pouch once they were outside. However, when he opened the door, Lucky dashed into the woods.
“Lucky!” John shouted. He quickly grabbed his flashlight and ran after her.
“Lucky! Stop!” John yelled, chasing her as fast as he could. Lucky slowed down and sped up occasionally, allowing John to keep up as if she was leading him somewhere.
A few minutes later, Lucky suddenly stopped in a remote part of the forest. John caught up, panting and scolding Lucky for running off. But when John caught his breath, he noticed an old cabin in front of them. Lucky entered through the slightly open door.
“No, Lucky! Come back,” John whispered, afraid the cabin’s occupants might think they were trying to steal something. But judging by the cabin’s remote location, John figured it was likely abandoned.
As they got closer, John started recognizing the cabin, leaving him puzzled. He knew the forest like the back of his hand and had passed by this cabin many times without paying it much attention. Why had Lucky led him here?
Overcome by curiosity, John went against his better judgment and followed Lucky inside. Lucky sniffed around the cabin, exploring every corner. She suddenly stopped near the fireplace, dropping the pouch beside her.
“That’s not all. I found your brother, Steven. He’s in my car, and you can meet him right now.”
“Alright, that’s enough, Lucky. Let’s get out of here before we get into trouble,” John said softly, trying to pull Lucky toward the door. But Lucky wouldn’t budge. She was onto something. Lucky began digging in the fireplace. A minute later, she unearthed a shiny object with her teeth and placed it at John’s feet.
It was a gold medallion with an intricate design engraved on the front. John picked it up to examine it more closely. After a moment, he realized it wasn’t just any design, but his family’s coat of arms! This was the heirloom John had been searching for all along. He had almost given up, and now it was right there in his hands.
Suddenly, the cabin door opened, and an elderly man entered.
“Charlie? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” the elderly man said, turning to the dog.
“Charlie? You know her?” John asked.
“Do I know her? I think the better question is, what are you doing in my cabin?” the man asked, grabbing the axe by the door.
“I’m sorry, it’s this dog that led me here. She insisted. I mean no harm,” John said, cautiously raising his hands in the air.
“Yeah, she can be quite insistent,” the man replied.
“I found her in the lake. She almost drowned.”
“Oh… Well, thank you. I took her in as a puppy from a nearby trail,” the man explained, slowly setting down the axe.
“And you named her Charlie? You do know she’s a girl, right?” John said with a little laugh, lowering his hands as well.
“She became my best friend, so I named her after my childhood friend. Someone I haven’t seen in a very long time,” the elderly man said with a sad, nostalgic look in his eyes.
“Where did you find this?” John asked, holding out the medallion. “My family has been searching for this medallion for years,” John added.
The man’s face suddenly grew pale. He looked confused and angry. John feared the worst, but then he saw a tear roll down the man’s cheek as he sat on the floor, defeated.
“My parents left that medallion to my younger brother, Charlie, when they passed away. They left me nothing. I was so furious that I stole it from him. Eventually, I joined the army. When I returned, I had no intention of reconnecting with my brother, so I came to live here in this cabin, hoping to sell the medallion for some money and start over,” the man tearfully explained.
“But I was told it had no value. So this cabin became my new home, and I’ve lived here ever since. I couldn’t bring myself to face my brother and apologize for what I had done. The shame has haunted me ever since,” the man admitted.
“I recently tried to burn it in the fireplace. But it remained intact,” the man concluded.
“Your brother’s name is Charlie?” John asked, surprised.
“Yes,” the man replied.
“That’s my grandfather’s name. He’s been searching for this medallion for years,” John said, stepping closer to the man.
“You’re Charlie’s grandson?” the man said, standing up to get a better look at John. “Yes, I can see it now,” the man said with a comforting smile. “Charlie brought us together,” he added, warmly embracing John as he cried.
“I think it’s time you and your brother reunited,” John said softly.
“Yes… I think it is,” the man agreed, nodding.
John couldn’t believe it. He had found the family heirloom and uncovered a family secret. He had no idea his grandfather had a long-lost brother.
That evening, John went to his grandfather’s house to show him what he had found. The elderly man couldn’t hold back his tears when he saw the medallion. He was amazed at how the dog had found in just a few days what the family had been searching for over decades.
He opened the medallion to reveal its true value. Inside was the only photo of John’s grandfather, his parents, and his older brother.
“Thank you so much, my boy. You have no idea what this means to me,” John’s grandfather said gratefully.
“That’s not all. I found your brother. Your Steven. He’s in my car, and you can meet him right now.” John’s grandfather couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He nodded hesitantly.
John and his grandfather stepped out of their small lakeside home to find Steven, Charlie’s brother, getting out of the car at the same time. Charlie approached, tears in his eyes. John stood back, Lucky by his side, watching as his grandfather and his brother embraced emotionally.
“I’m so sorry, Charlie!” Steven cried.
“I know. It’s all right now. We’re finally together again, brother,” Charlie said, weeping bitterly.
Charlie and Steven spent a long night together. They drank coffee, reminisced about the good old days, and caught up on all the important events they had missed in each other’s lives. John took photos of their time together and was extremely happy for his grandfather.
John’s grandfather and Steven agreed that Steven would leave the cabin and move in with him the next day to make up for the lost time. But in the morning, when John went to pick up Steven’s things to bring him to his grandfather’s, he discovered that the elderly man had passed away in his cabin.
His grandfather was heartbroken, but grateful for the moment he had just shared with his long-lost brother and best friend. John added a photo of the two brothers together in their old age to the medallion, only increasing its value to their family.
What can we learn from this story?
Sometimes our actions lead us to unexpected places, and we never know what we might find or who we might meet. John’s encounter with Lucky led him to his grandfather’s brother and helped heal an old family wound.
Chances for redemption exist. Steven and his brother Charlie found a second chance at redemption in their old age, after all those years.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
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