Who Isn’t A Fan of a Girl Scout Cookie?
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage made a small error this week. It was a minor error for her, but a major one for me.
She does not always commit errors from which I can profit. I don’t tell anyone, especially if I’m within her range, but there are times when she makes a mistake, and I always look for those instances.
When it comes to myself, I’m always wrong. My slips are much bigger, so I’m not sure if I can make a small one. The issue with this is that the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage always finds them, and I have no idea how she does it, but she sometimes finds them before I do.
I refer to it as “man’s trouble,” but she refers to it as “woman’s intuition.”
For instance, I had an appointment with my eye doctor this past week. I was anxious about picking up my brand-new glasses. The doctor’s appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, I informed my wife. She responded, “No, I believe it’s on Thursday,” in response.
With both hands on my hips, I said, “It’s my appointment, and I’ll go when I want to.”
She gave me a mocking glance before returning to her work. I think I heard her mutter something along the lines of “He’s 13 once more.”
When I got to the eye doctor’s office, I signed in at the counter while I was putting on my mask, which I don’t like very much. After that, I went to sit down and wait for a call.
A nurse came up to me in a few minutes and asked, “Mr. Snyder, what are you doing here today?”
“I’m on my way here to get my glasses.”
“Your appointment isn’t until tomorrow, sorry.”
“Could I camp here until tomorrow?” I asked as I gave her one of my stunned looks.
I had to return home to inform my wife that I was mistaken and that she was correct. I would be extremely wealthy if I were paid one nickel for every time I admitted that I was wrong.
However, I was able to profit from my wife’s mistake this week.
“The Girl Scouts are selling cookies at Publix today,” she said as she entered the kitchen after returning from shopping at Publix, I believe without even thinking.
She says a lot of things that I can’t hear. I’m unsure if it’s my ears or something else. I picked up on this phrase about Girl Scout cookies for some reason.
I tried to remain calm and quiet. I was aware that she would understand what she was saying to me if I caused any excitement. She claims that I can only eat very limited quantities of cookies. She would prefer that I not consume any cookies while I have breath in my nostrils.
I can recall her saying to me, “You can’t eat any cookies!”
Because she was unaware of what I was saying, I grinned. A positive is a double negative. That eludes the majority of people.
The next thing we had to do was figure out how to leave the house and go to Publix without anyone in the house knowing.
I had no idea how I would accomplish this. I considered it and attempted to devise the ideal strategy.
Then, a completely unexpected opportunity presented itself.
My wife asked, “Would you have time to run over to Publix and pick this up for me?” “I forgot something at Publix,” she said.
In situations like these, it’s hard for me to control the hilarious laughter. I put in a lot of effort and said, “Oh, my dear. I can leave right now without any issues.”
Before I even got in the car and started driving toward Publix, I vanished from the house like a magician. Those delicious Girl Scout cookies were all I could think about. After all, when I purchase Girl Scout cookies, I contribute to the support of some young women who are in need. That is my narrative, and I will adhere to it.
I almost forgot what I had come to get as I approached the Publix girls.
I said, “I’ll be back after I go shopping,” as I looked at them.
Since I couldn’t decide which cookies I wanted to buy, I returned to do the gentlemanly thing and bought one of each cookie they had for sale because I’m always true to my word. My desire for these cookies is unrelated to the price.
My wife happened to look at the bag as I was putting it on the kitchen table, and she said to me, “Those are not Girl Scout cookies, are they?”
“Is that not what you wanted me to purchase?”
All I could think about was eating that first cookie as she just stared at me.
I was reminded of something David wrote in one of his Psalms, “Delight thyself also in the LORD;” as I took pleasure in eating that first cookie. and he will grant you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4).
My greatest pleasure is in the Lord, more so than in these cookies. I relish all the pleasures of that relationship as I delight in the Lord.
