Finishing my morning work, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, appeared at my office and asked, “Do you know what day it is?”
I didn’t know if this was a trick question because she always puts a trick question before me.
“I think,” my dear, “that it’s Tuesday.”
She looked at me, giggled, and said, “Yes, it is Tuesday, but it’s also something else.”
“Is it somebody’s birthday?” She shook her head and said, “Keep on guessing.”
I knew I never was going to get it right. So, finally, I confessed and said, “I give up?”
Looking in my direction, she flashed a smile and said, “Today is the third anniversary of your retirement.” Then she laughed.
“What retirement are you talking about?,” I asked.
“You don’t remember that three years ago you retired from the church? I know you’ve been busy with ministry projects, but I would think you’d remember moving away from the church.”
Thinking about that for a moment, it finally came to me. I can’t believe it’s been that long. It just seemed like yesterday I retired.
One thing I did just before retiring was to add a room to our house. That room was my office, and to tell the truth, it was a little bigger than the office I had at the church.
But in the middle of that new office, I’m surrounded by all kinds of books, about 10,000. Sitting at my desk is a delight looking at those books.
In the church office, I could do things and hide things Martha wouldn’t know of. She was the church secretary, so her office was next to mine.
But in my office, I had opportunities to eat apple fritters. At that time, McDonald’s carried apple fritters, and I’d stop there on my way to my office after lunch and get a coffee and my favorite treat.
I’ve discovered working at home is a lot better. I can work for an hour and take a break, sit in my easy chair, and drink some coffee. I can even watch the news on TV. Then, when I’m ready, I can go back to my office and work so more.
Something struck me as I thought about this. When I was at my church office, whenever the phone rang, I had to answer it. You never know who’s calling, and they might need some help, so I had to answer.
Now that my office is at home, when the phone rings, I can let it ring and ring and ring. Do you know how refreshing it is to sit there, listen to the phone ring and not answer it?
I never knew how wonderful it would be to work at home. Some days, I work in my pajamas. So for comfort at least, there’s no place like home.
Jesus said something along these lines in John.
“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
— John 14:2
I can’t imagine how wonderful that home in heaven is going to be, and I’m sure I’m not going to miss my home here on earth.
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].
