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Out To Pastor
When I think I’ve turned a page to a new chapter in my life, I realize there is nothing new in life. I’m referring to pain. I cannot remember when I didn’t have some pain.
Monday night just after midnight, my right wrist was in a lot of pain. I got up, took some Tylenol and went back to bed. In the morning, the pain was.
I informed The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage about the pain in my hand. She took great interest and wanted to do whatever to help me get rid of all that pain.
By late afternoon, the pain was worse.
It was then she decided I needed to go to the Urgent Care for some medical help.
Throughout the years of our marital bliss, I learned one great lesson: “Don’t argue with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage.” So, she drove me down to the Urgent Care for treatment around 7:30 PM.
I always take The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage with me to any doctor visits I have, because she takes the doctor’s words very literally. I, on the other hand, paraphrase what the doctor says, which, when I get home, doesn’t make any sense at all.
Finally, we were ushered in to see the doctor.
Eventually the doctor pulled out her needle and prepped my arm for a shot.
I noticed she was grinning, which made me realize the shot was going to hurt like crazy. And boy, did it hurt, and I almost shouted in pain, which made her smile more.
The doctor diagnosed my situation and prescribed some medication, and then gave me an arm bracelet to help ease the pain in my arm.
We finally left Urgent Care about 10:30 and headed for home.
Before I went to bed, I took off the bracelet, and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage put some medication the doctor recommended to deal with the pain. I didn’t have much sleep that night.
In the morning, the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage had to examine my arm to see how it was. She then gave me more Tylenol to deal with the pain and helped put on my arm bracelet.
It was a busy day for The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and had little time to sit down and rest. But, she took time to stop and examine my arm. She would always ask, “How is your arm doing now?”
My constant reply was, “It’s doing fine.” Of course, she never believed me.
Then a crazy thought entered my mind, which is well accustomed to crazy thoughts.
I switched the arm bracelet from my right arm to my left arm. I know, it’s a very crazy thing to do, but then that is my MO.
She came in and said, “Let me see your arm.”
I lifted up my left arm so she could look at it, and she examined it very carefully and then said, “It’s starting to look better. I hope the pain is also going away.” Then she went back to the kitchen to her work.
I chuckled quite a bit as I put the bracelet back on my right arm where it belongs. If I’m going to have pain, I’m going to use it for some pleasure on my part.
As I was reading my Bible, I came across an interesting verse. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
My physical pain is nothing compared to God’s grace in me each day.
Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-2163025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail. com, website www.jamessnyderministries. com
