Serving the Community Since 1989 |
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One thing that truly amazes me is how fast Thanksgiving goes. Here I am in the living room relaxing in my easy chair just one day after Thanksgiving.
I groaned a little bit and rubbed my stomach. Then the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage said, "Don't you think it's rather foolish to stuff yourself so much on Thanksgiving?" Thinking about this, I began to wonder if being full and being a fool is similar? So, not in such a thinking mode as I should be, I asked my wife. “What is the difference in being full and being a fool?” “Well,” she said rather thoughtfully, “A fool does not know when he crosses the line to becoming full.” I asked my wife. “How can being full make you a fool?” “Just go and look in the mirror,” she replied. I guess I've been a fool for most of my lifetime. My motto, especially around the Thanksgiving table, is, "Just one more piece." At the time, I did not realize that "one more piece" makes me cross the line into being a very foolish person. Is it that foolish to become full at a Thanksgiving dinner? After all, what is Thanksgiving dinner for if I do not leave the table full? I came by this legitimately. It goes back to my maternal grandmother We would all gather at grandma's place for Thanksgiving dinner, and boy could she stir up a Thanksgiving dinner. She had on the table everything you could ever imagine eating for Thanksgiving. Some things on the table I did not recognize, but, being at grandma's table at Thanksgiving time, I ate it. After we were at the table for a while, people started to leave. Grandma always would say, "Please, just one more bite before you go. There's plenty left." Of course, being at grandma's Thanksgiving table, she made the rules, and we abided by them out of deep respect. None of us had to be overly convinced to stay for just one more bite. We all left being as full as we possibly could be under her instructions. I do not think being full is the same as being a fool. In my calculations, not stuffi ng yourself at grandma’s Thanksgiving table would make you a fool. Who wants to be that kind of a fool? Remember, grandmas are never wrong! A real fool would be someone leaving grandma's Thanksgiving dinner without being full. Believe me, I am not that kind of fool. Between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, it is my purpose to eat as much as I can to become as full as I can be. After all, on New Year's Day, I am going to make a resolution not to eat so much at each meal. That is then, but now I indulge myself to such an extent that I am genuinely full. As I thought of this, I remembered what Solomon said. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). A wise man will walk to the table of the Lord and stuff himself with God’s goodness until he is full and overfl owing. That sure is not being foolish. As I thought of this, I remembered what Solomon said. "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). A wise man will walk to the table of the Lord and stuff himself with God’s goodness until he is full and overfl owing. That sure is not being foolish. A wise man will walk to the table of the Lord and stuff himself with God’s goodness until he is full and overfl owing. That sure is not being foolish. Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mailjamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com. |
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