By JAMES L. SNYDER Guest Columnist Time has a way of getting ahead of me. Just when I think I’ve caught up, I find out I was wrong.
Wife Martha, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, and I were sitting down, relaxing after a wonderful Christmas activity with all the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. It was a wonderful time, but with my age, I ran out of steam very quickly.
Once upon a time, I had enough steam to do just about anything. Now, that seems to have evaporated.
This year’s Christmas celebration was a wonderful time, and as we sat around the table, I noticed that the people around us were a lot older than they were a year ago.
Looking at me with a smirk, Martha said, “Well, I guess this year’s over.” Then she let out one of her patented laughs As always, she was right. This year will be over in a few days, and I can tuck it into bed and let it go to sleep.
It seems strange that when I’m getting used to something, it’s over before I know it. Things go by so quickly these days.
Why is it that when you’re young and have energy, things don’t go very fast, no matter how hard you try? However, the older you get the faster things seem to go. I guess I’ll never figure that one out.
Then Martha mentioned the unmentionable, “So, have you worked on your New Year’s resolutions yet?”
That’s the one question I don’t want to hear.
When she brought that up, I looked back at her, smiled and said, “On the top of my list is that I will only eat one apple fritter at a time.”
She didn’t laugh at that one. When I was done chuckling, I looked at her and said, “OK, have you made your New Year’s resolution list yet?”
Then she began with her list, which borders on infinity. She had so many things that she wanted to get done in the next year that I got tired of listening to them. I did know if she made a list of something, you can bet your bottom dollar she’s going to complete every one.
With a very curious look in her eyes, she looked at me and said, “Out of all those Christmases that we had together, which one would you think is your best Christmas?”
I learned a lot from my father, so I responded, “Oh, my dear. My best Christmas is the one we’re celebrating right now.”
Coming to the end of a year and the beginning of a new year, I couldn’t help but think of a verse in the Bible. Solomon wrote many years ago:
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”
— Ecclesiastes 1: 9
My experience is the older I get the less things change. As a young person, I always hoped things would change and get better. Sometimes they did, but more often than not, things remain the same.
The only change in my life was when I surrendered my life unto the Lord Jesus Christ as my 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]
