One important thing I have learned is that you don’t appreciate something until it’s missing. I’ve learned that by many things that I just took for granted.
Last week, I had some problems with my truck, so I had to have it serviced. It took longer than I expected. The rub was I had a doctor’s appointment across town that day, leaving me two choices.
First, I could cancel my appointment, but you know how that can be trying to reschedule. Second, I could ask The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, to use her sissy van to get to the doctor.
The first chore I had with the van was opening the door. There was no way I was going to get inside the way the seat was set.
I had to push it back as far as it would go. Then I got behind the steering wheel, squishing my body as I got in.
No matter how far back I pushed the seat, my knees were still under my chin.
Next was the steering wheel. It took me 10 minutes to figure out how to adjust that steering wheel, and I still couldn’t get it to where it was comfortable for me to steer.
The next thing was the mirrors; the mirror inside the van and the two mirrors outside on each side of the vehicle. It took me a while to figure out how to do that because it’s been a long time since I adjusted any mirrors in my vehicle.
I did have somewhat of a scare with the indoor mirror. As I adjusted it, a very scary face popped into view. I almost screamed, but then realized it was my face.
Finally, I got everything pretty close to normal and was ready to leave. I put the key in, turned it, and the van started up right away.
I sighed in relief. When I arrived at the doctor’s office, I pulled in and parked. I thought everything was in order, but then I tried to get out.
The door opened relatively quickly, but that’s as far as it went. I twisted and turned, but I couldn’t get out of my seat. My legs were jammed under the steering wheel, and I couldn’t twist.
It took me a few minutes, before I eventually was able to slowly extract my body from the van. I got out, stood up, and looked back to ensure all of me was extracted.
Driving back after my doctor’s appointment, I thought of how much I loved my truck. When I return, I’ll spend a little time telling my truck just how much I appreciate it.
I often think about what the Apostle Paul said in Thessalonians about appreciation:
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”
— 2 Thessalonians 1: 33
I am committed to thanking God for everyone in my life while I can still do it.
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]
