Editor's Musings

Editor's Musings

Thoughts from the editor's desk.

Sharon Cress is editor of the Journal.

Dear Ones,

Far too many ministers’ wives seem to live their lives believing happiness will be simultaneous with “if and when.” “If ___ happens, I’ll be happy.” “When ___ occurs, I’ll be satisfied.” Well, it seems to me there are only two outcomes to this type of thinking. Either ___ will happen or it won’t. If it doesn’t, we will continue riding the same old worn-out horse of discontentment, believing happiness is just around the corner and continuing to live in daily misery. If ___ does happen, we will be rudely jolted into the reality that this occurrence wasn’t what we thought would bring us happiness after all, and we will immediately set another if-and-when scenario, which will put us right back where we were before—immobilized into waiting.

If-and-when thinking is such a clever, devilish idea. It robs us of today when we could be enjoying the good things God gives us. This doesn’t mean we don’t have dreams and goals; personally, I long for the day I lose those last five pounds and will feel a sense of personal achievement when finally I get the kitchen repainted.

Last night, however, I savored a few bites of mango sorbet, and it was delicious! And I ate it joyfully—focusing on the section of the kitchen that is finished!

Friends, keep on striving for the best. Keep on looking to Jesus who is waiting to give us that svelte teenage figure once again and who has personally designed our final heavenly parsonage with no renovations required. But in the meantime, just for today, find a little bit of that heaven here. You probably won’t have to look very far!

God bless you every one,

Sharon