Emily was really scared about her sister-in-law Jessica’s big dinner. Emily felt unimportant around Jessica’s expensive tastes and condescending attitude, especially since her husband Mark was having money problems.
When Jessica asked for fancy dishes, Emily made a hearty casserole at home, trying to make a meaningful contribution. But Jessica laughed and called it “soup kitchen” food, which made Emily look bad in front of her family.
Emily felt ashamed and unworthy as she left, and she was devastated. But karma got in the way.
The next morning, Jessica called and was laughing so hard she was crying. The staff made a mistake and her food in the fridge went bad, making the potluck a mess. The guests left early, and Jessica’s attempt to be perfect went wrong.
Once turned down, Emily’s simple meal became the only way out. The mother of Jessica said, “Something you made could’ve saved the evening.”
Jessica’s pride was defeated by Emily’s strength and humility, teaching Jessica a valuable lesson in being thankful and kind.