One thing I have learned in life is there are times when things do come together.
Just the other day, I finished my manuscript for my publisher and sent it in, and I was in great relief that job was done. I sat back in my chair and just enjoyed the feeling of being caught up.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, and some girls in the family had taken a two-day trip out of town for whatever. I’ve learned not to get involved in what the female side of the family is doing.
I know from Martha’s side it has a lot to do with thrift store shopping. If there’s something I like less than thrift store shopping, I’ve yet to find it.
So I was leaning back in my chair, celebrating this situation and rejoicing over a thought that just came to me.
The thought dancing in my head had to do with a fresh apple fritter or two. I can’t celebrate any better than with several apple fritters, particularly one in each hand.
Martha isn’t fond of apple fritters — especially for me. On the other side of the table, I believe there’s nothing better in the entire world than an apple fritter. After all, it is a fruit.
But that idea of an apple fritter was very alluring to me. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Three blocks down the road, I could get a fresh apple fritter.
Since Martha wasn’t home, I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted. When she left the other day, she said, “You behave yourself while I’m gone. Do you hear me?”
Boy, did I hear her? I’m only thinking whether she heard what she said. If I’m going to behave myself, I will behave like myself.
When I have an apple fritter in each hand, I behave myself better. I’m more myself with an apple fritter than anything else.
With great delight and anticipation, I got into my truck and drove down to Publix where I usually get my apple fritters. The problem was that everybody in that public store knew my wife and her thoughts about my target.
However, across the town, about 15 minutes away, is another Publix with the same apple fritters. The thing about this store is that nobody knows Martha.
That evening, I sat in my easy chair, leaned back, sipped some hot coffee, and began nibbling on my fritters. As I was enjoying them, I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it is to get caught up in life’s projects and then celebrate with the most amazing treat.
I brought one of my favorite Bible verses to mind.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
— Proverbs 17: 22
It’s very difficult to find someone with a “merry heart.” There is so much pain and stress in this world that a merry heart is absent. It doesn’t matter what’s on the outside if my inside (heart) is focused on Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Dr. Snyder is a former pastor who lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, in Ocala, Fla. His email is [email protected].
