Dr. James L. Snyder
It was Thursday, and as usual, I was busy working on weekend projects. My biggest project, of course, was my Sunday sermon. Most people don’t understand the amount of hard work that goes into preparing a Sunday sermon. And I work hard.
I was spending time researching some ideas on Google. I spend a lot of time on Google because it helps with my research. I’m able to find certain subjects very quickly.
Until Thursday, I didn’t realize how much time I spent on Google. It’s really a blessing in my life.
I had some coffee, and I was resting in my chair, thinking about what I was finding on Google. I thought back to when I was a youngster, and back then, we didn’t have Google, nor did we have the Internet. What would young people do today if they didn’t have Google, the Internet, or cell phones? I’m not sure they would have a life.
In my younger days, we didn’t have any of that, but there was one thing we did have that made all the difference in the world. We may not have had Google, but we had Grandma.
I spent some time with my Grandma, especially during the summer. If I wanted to know anything, all I had to do was ask her, and she always had the answer.
Looking back now, I realize how important my Grandma was to me in that regard. There wasn’t a subject that I could bring up that she didn’t know something about it. Whether she was making things up or not, I will never know. All I know is, she had an answer for every question I could put in front of her.
Once, I had to do an essay for my science class. I was really stumbling around, and then Grandma stopped by to visit us. When that happened, I had a brilliant idea.
I went to Grandma and asked her about my subject and if she knew anything about it. She said she did, and she began explaining everything to me about that, and I took notes. Looking at those notes afterward, I didn’t quite understand everything, but I put them together as best I could and prepared my essay.
That was the first essay I received an A. My teacher took me aside and asked me how I came up with all of these wonderful ideas in my essay. I did not know what to say, I was a little embarrassed. I simply told him I had done research on that subject. He smiled at me, congratulated me, and said, “Well done. Keep up the good work.”
I hope that when he said “keep up the good work,” he was referring to my relationship with my Grandma on these subjects.
I don’t know how my grandmother got so smart. No matter what the subject people were talking about, my grandmother had something to say about it. She was known throughout the community as a very wise lady, and I could understand why.
I’ve always wanted to ask her how she knew all the things she knew. If I had that answer, maybe I could be as smart as she was. But I never dared to ask her why she was so smart about so many things.
Throughout my teenage years, I received advice from my grandmother. Her advice always turned out to be the right advice. I learned to trust her advice, and it helped me out.
One area of my life that I never ask her for advice on was my “Dating Life.” Actually, I did not have such a life, but if I had sat down with Grandma, I’m sure she could have given me advice along that line. I’m not sure I would’ve taken her advice, but it probably would’ve been good advice.
Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t ask her about that. That may have changed my life entirely, and I’m glad my life is the way it is today.
Every once in a while, when I’m searching for something on Google, I think of my Grandma. In my mind, she was Google before Google was even invented. Where she acquired all her wisdom is beyond me, but I was glad to draw on it when I needed to.
I have learned that asking the right question to the right person will bring you to the right answer. And that sure described my Grandma. Thinking about that lately, I wanted to sit down with my Grandma and go over a list of questions I have today. As I think of it, what would be some of the answers that she would give me?
Over the last few years, I hope I have inherited some of Grandma’s wisdom. I’m not sure I have, but I’m going to pretend I did, and pass it on to my grandchildren, just like my Grandma did.
A verse of Scripture came to mind. “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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6).
God’s wisdom is better than Grandma’s. I just need to ask Him. Asking opens the door to the flow of wisdom I need in my life.
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
