Once again, it’s Five Minute Friday. The rules…for review:
- Write for 5 minutes. Don’t look back…much.
- Link for Gypsy Mama’s Five Minute Friday page.
- Most important, stop by the person ahead of you and leave an encouraging message.
GO
I’m calling you to minister…
Yes, your husband is the pastor.
Technically, it isn’t your job.
This means that when a child gets sick
You are the one who stays home.
Because of the family responsibilities you both carry,
You are usually the one who stays behind if it is necessary.
Because no one can preach for him on such short notice…
Unless he is ill!
Is it fair?
I don’t think that is the right question.
The things that must be sorted out are where do priorities lie?
When it comes to organized meetings that must be led,
Most of the time, husband must go to them.
He would rather be home.
Our top priority and responsibility was to OUR family.
There was no one else who could love them, minister to them,
Grow them, discipline them (in the good sense), encourage them,
And help them become functioning adults.
That often fell to me, the mom.
On occasion, it cramped my style..a bit,
But rarely.
Those were days GOD often used to say, “Martha, it is time to slow down. ” STOP
“Stop. Take time to be at home and be quiet.”
Stay with your sick child.”
I don’t get those days anymore.
The children are grown…and have their children.
But I often need to stay home or stay put in places or situations where I don’t want to be.
The older I get, the more it happens.
I’m learning to be content, but along with it comes a certain sadness.
photo: © Alanpoulson | Dreamstime.com
yes, kimberly. at this season of my life, i’m finding it especially true!
Such a thoughtful post. Staying can be bittersweet.
Since August, our son has been ill more times than I can count. My husband is a pastor, too, so I can fully relate! I do embrace each moment, staying home, loving him, comforting him, fulfilling my seasonal purpose.
absolutely! i remember always feeling that i was more of a detriment to my parents’ “ministry”. i thought that it was my job as a good christian kid to not make any demands on them and their time.
when i had a family, that was the last thing i wanted for my children to feel! we were their parents…of course they needed to call us. if they were sick, of course we gave up our plans. nothing was more important than they were. i know i didn’t always do a good job of showing them that, but i do think i communicated it in a better way than was communicated to me. i think that is a sign of growth.
My husband is not a pastor but I too have had to stay home and miss quite a few events because of my responsibilities as a mother. I used to fret that I was missing out on things because of the kids’ sickness or their bedtimes, but now I gladly send my husband off, knowing he’s representing all of us in the family.
yes, i know i didn’t just miss those things b/c i was a pastor’s wife. it’s just that often we forget that ministry isn’t always public. in fact, the private places of ministry are often the most effective…particularly with our children.
they know if we are chafing when we have to be with them or give up our plans for them. learning to rest in GOD’s plan for us includes those times when children get sick and we have to stay home with them…and quiet down the craziness of our lives…because we love them most of all!
Fabulous post.
thanks denise 🙂