Life has its many experiences. I had my 75th birthday this month,which was a big experience.
I wasn’t sure how to celebrate that, especially since I’ve done just about everything, so no 75 candles on my cake.
Over the years of riding in the “Sissy Van” of wife Martha, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I’ve discovered certain “buttons” to push. It took me a long time to discover this, but once I did, it made riding in her vehicle that much more pleasant.
As we were driving across town last week, I started pushing those “buttons.”
Coming to a traffic light that had just turned red I said, “The light is red and you need to stop.”
Martha just looked at me after we’d come to a stop at the light. It was all I could do to keep from laughing, but I managed.
When the light turned green, I said, “The light is green and you need to get going.”
All I heard from the other side was a deep sigh. We were going across town to a restaurant for my birthday dinner.
When we left the restaurant, we headed to a store so she could get some supplies for her craft room. We stopped at a red light, and a woman was crossing the road, and I said, “Oh, my dear, don’t hit that lady.”
There was another deep sigh from the other side of the front seat.
After the stoplight, we were to turn left, I said, “You need to turn left right here.”
Martha didn’t say anything, but I knew the marbles were rolling in her head.
When she got back from the store and into the van, and before she turned the engine on, she looked at me and said, “Are you having a crazy episode?”
Looking at her, I calmly said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, yes you do. And if you want me to drive home you’re gonna have to let me do the driving.”
It was then that I lost control and started laughing. As I looked at her, I noticed she wasn’t amused.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I was just having a little bit of fun.”
Looking at me, she replied, “You may think it’s fun but you don’t see me laughing, do you?”
As I was thinking about this, a Bible verse came to mind.
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
— Hebrews 10: 24-25
Thinking of this scripture challenged me to be uplifting those around me instead of pushing their “buttons.” To encourage someone in their life is probably among the most important things any of us can do.
I’m going to be certain to be among those who can do that in someone’s life. I’m going to focus on that going forward.
My focus will be finding the encouragement “buttons.” I may be the only person in their life who does that.
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].
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