Out to Pastor: Another Turkey in the Oven

By Dr. James L. Snyder

What would Thanksgiving be without a turkey?

Thanksgiving is always my favorite time because the focus of Thanksgiving is food. Nobody loves food more than I do. I am always anxious for our Thanksgiving dinner to come.

This year I had a bit of apprehension before Thanksgiving. The kitchen is just next to the living room, and I was in the living room taking a little snooze, and just as I was waking up, I heard from the kitchen, “I’m going to put that turkey in the oven today.”

Cautiously, I got up and tiptoed out to the kitchen, and looking at my wife, I said, “Is there anything I can do to help you?” Looking at me suspiciously, she asked, “What did you have in mind?” “Anything,” I said, “that would help you getting our turkey ready for Thanksgiving.”

Looking at me for a moment she burst out laughing. Then she said something that has troubled me to this very day. “You want one turkey to help another turkey?”

Slowly, I went back into the living room and set up my chair to ponder what had just happened. I then heard from the kitchen, “Yes, he said that.” Then, there was a burst of laughter. I wished I knew who she was talking to.

I can’t recall all the times I got in trouble with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage because I didn’t hear everything she said. She often tells me, “I know, my dear, you can hear but can’t listen.”

Cautiously, as I took a bite of that turkey, I glanced over at The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I was trying to find out a clue as to what I heard on the telephone this past week. She was paying me no attention and just enjoying the family around the table.

The next day, after it was all over and all the family had gone home, I sat in the living room relaxing and watching a little TV. On my mind was that turkey we had yesterday. Then, a thought just got a hold of me at that time.

I thought that the center of our Thanksgiving dinner was the turkey. Everybody was talking about the turkey and how delicious it was. That got me thinking about my situation.

If the Thanksgiving turkey is the center of our family get-together, perhaps when my wife refers to me as a turkey, it means I’m the center of our family. That never occurred to me before. I didn’t want to test it with The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, I thought better.

Sometimes, what you don’t hear can be a blessing.

Thinking about this later that day I was reminded of what Jesus said. “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given” (Mark 4:23-24).

I have an obligation to listen to what I am hearing. This has a degree of obedience that is important in my Christian life. I will be held accountable to what I am hearing. That means it is important to hear everything. If I miss a word I could get the whole thing wrong which would have consequences in my life.

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Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-216-3025, email jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com.