Christmas was over, and the house began to quiet down in a good way.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the noise when all the family is together. It’s a good feeling to be with your family during this wonderful holiday season. I love the energy!
This Christmas season, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, baked a truckload of cookies and shared them with friends and neighbors, who greatly appreciated them.
The only problem with Martha baking cookies is I’m in the same house, and the smell infiltrates every room.
There’s a very strict rule in our house about cookies: I can have only one, and only if Martha gives it to me. Otherwise, it’s a forbidden fruit.
The great thing about our family coming together for Christmas dinner is there are so many of us. With the little ones always very noisy, I try to stir up that noise as much as possible — after all, isn't that a grandfather's job?
Amid all the holiday noise, I sneak a cookie. If Martha doesn’t catch me, it’s OK — or so I think.
I must confess eating these cookies isn’t my fault. After all, Martha didn’t make so many delicious cookies, I wouldn’t be tempted. In short, my eating cookies isn’t my fault but hers.
As the festivities begin, I asked her if I could give some cookies to the grandchildren. After all, I explained, she was too busy to do this.
I must say I caught her by surprise, and because she was busy with something else, she just said, “OK, but remember, no cookies for you.”
The first grandchild I took the cookie plate to looked at me and said, “Papaw, do you want one of my cookies?”
Now, how can you refuse your grandchild? I thought it was my grandparental duty to respond to my grandchild by saying, “Oh, my dear, thank you so much I appreciate that.”
And the cookie disappeared from the plate into my adoring mouth.
My only question during this festive time was: How many cookies are too many?
After the family activities were over, I relaxed with some coffee and Martha came in and sat down. She looked at me and asked, “So, how many cookies did you eat today?”
To answer that question would get me in deep trouble. Instead, I replied, “Wasn’t our great granddaughter so cute?” That was enough to distract her and get her talking about the little one.
While she went on and on about our great granddaughter, I remembered a Bible verse I read in my devotions.
“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.”
— 1 Chronicles 16: 8-10
No amount of trouble can rob me of rejoicing in the Lord. Everything I have is a gift from the Lord, and I’m going to appreciate it the rest of my life.
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].
