Knowing everything is a blessing and a curse

If you ever spent more than five minutes with me, you would conclude that I do not know everything. I would agree 100%.

This is not true for everyone in our house. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, according to my experience, knows just about everything.

It's been a blessing because when I can't do something, I ask her; she knows it, and more than that, she can explain it to me.

A few years ago, her vehicle broke down. I don't remember what was wrong with it, but we had it towed to the garage to fix.

When we got there, she walked in to talk to the mechanic. This was our first time at this repair shop, so we didn't know them, and they didn't know us. But The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage told him what was wrong with her vehicle and what he needed to do to fix it.

He looked at me, then back at her, and said, "Yes, ma'am. I'll take care of your vehicle."

When we went to pick up her vehicle, the mechanic said, "Ma'am, how did you know what was wrong with your vehicle and furthermore how did you know how to fix it?"

She went into a long explanation, and I just smiled.

When she finished explaining, he looked at her and asked, "Would you like a job here?"

Knowing everything can be a great blessing, but it can also be a curse.

When it comes to thrift store shops within a 100-mile radius of our home, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage knows them all and everything about them.

I know where all the McDonald's restaurants are, but that's my limit. After all, they do have Apple Fritters.

Monday this past week, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage went grocery shopping in the next town. When she got home, I could see she was very frustrated.

So all I said was, "How was your shopping trip?"

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.”

"Do you know," she said as frustrated as I've ever seen her, "that there’s a new thrift store just 5 miles from our house? That thrift store has been there for over a year, and I didn't know about it."

How dare a thrift store shop open up without telling her?

I knew that the next several days were going to be difficult until she was able to go and visit that new thrift store shop.

When she returned from visiting the new thrift store shop, her face was all aglow. There was a wonderful smile on her face while she carried a basket full of items from the store.

Looking at me, she said, "I had the most wonderful time at that new thrift store shop. It's a wonderful place and I got to know everybody there."

I’ve learned that wisdom is a vital aspect of life. A Bible verse that says this is James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

When I recognize how short I am on knowledge, I then can come to God who is liberal in His giving of knowledge. My choice is, rely on my wisdom or the wisdom of God. That’s the only wisdom I can trust.

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