There’s no place like home

Finishing my morning work, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage 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 is Tuesday.”
She looked at me, giggled, and said, “Yes, it is Tuesday, but it is also something else.”
I had to think about that for a moment. At first, I wasn’t sure it really was Tuesday, but I got that right. However, I didn’t get her question right. I had to figure out what she was talking about because she would not stop until I got it right.
“Is it somebody’s birthday today?”
She shook her head and said, “Keep on guessing.”
I knew I was never going to get it right. So, finally, I confessed and said, “I give up. What day is it?”
Looking in my direction, she flashed a smile and said, “Today is the third anniversary of your retirement.” Then she laughed.
Looking at her, not quite understanding, I said, “What retirement are you talking about?”
“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 would remember moving away from the church.”
I have been officially retired for three years now. Where did all those years go? I guess I had so much fun and involved with so many things that they just passed by.
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 office, I am surrounded by all kinds of books, about 10,000.
Back in the church office, I could do things and hide things that The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would not know of. She was the church secretary, so her office was right next to mine.
But in my office, I had opportunities to eat Apple fritters. At that time, McDonald’s carried Apple fritters, and I would stop there on my way to my office after lunch and get a coffee and an Apple Fritter. That was one of my secrets in the old church office.
After three years in my home office, I have yet to discover how I can sneak an Apple Fritter into my office. In order to do that, I would have to bypass The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, and no matter where I put that Apple Fritter, she knew I had it. She can smell an Apple Fritter two days before I purchase it. How she does that is beyond my understanding.
I didn’t know I would really get used to being in my home office, but after three years, I looked back and discovered that I had gotten used to my new dynamics.
I have discovered working at home is a lot better. I can work for an hour and then take a break, sit in my easy chair, and drink some hot coffee. I can even watch the news on TV. Then, when I’m ready, I can shuffle off into my office and get back to work.
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 needed to answer the phone.
Now that my office is at home, when the phone rings, I can let it ring and ring and ring. I don’t need to answer it if I don’t want to. Sometimes, that really makes my day.
At my home office, I don’t have to follow a stringent schedule. I can come to and leave my office whenever I want to. However, I still have plenty of work to do because my ministry has not downsized yet.
I never knew how wonderful it would be to work at home. Some days, don’t let this get around, I work in my pajamas all day. Who’s going to know?
There is no place like home.
Jesus said something along these lines in John 14:2, “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.”
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. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com.