Appreciating your pastor

Mrs. Pastor: When I read this article by Pastor James, I decided that the best time to share it was at the end of the "Pastor Appreciation Month" - just to say that I'm sure that just like we all want to be appreciated everyday, not just on our birthday or other special occasions, Pastor and Mrs. Pastor would appreciate more "regular" appreciation (pun intended). Let's read on...

October has been declared “Pastor Appreciation Month.” That often means cards and notes, perhaps some thoughtful gifts or recognitions.

We don’t get into this much at Meck. Don’t get me wrong, I feel incredibly appreciated by our community of faith. It’s just that “Pastor Appreciation Month” has never been a galvanizing force for people’s thoughts or feelings. And I certainly don’t mark it as a litmus test for appreciation.

5 Things Your Pastor's Wife Needs from You

As we know (or don't know), October is Clergy/Pastor Appreciation Month. So when I got this piece from another Mrs Pastor, it struck me that sharing excerpts from this article may help others know what they can do to "appreciate" their Pastor's wife (pictures mine).

 

5 Things Your Pastor's Wife Needs from You

Imagine a job acquired through marriage. One without pay, where you had to be on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. What if your performance wasn’t measured solely on your performance but rather, on how well you managed EVERY other area of your life—your home, your finances, your budget. Add to this volunteering in every ministry, watching other people’s children, and providing meals to those in need.

In October, churches...are honoring their pastors, as they should, but let’s not forget their wives. They say behind every successful man is an encouraging and supportive woman. This is true ten times over when it comes to those involved in ministry. And yet, if you asked the wives, most would tell you they’re happy to do what they do—what they feel led to do.

Most would tell you they consider their role as a pastor’s wife a calling.

But they’re human, and even those who are called need support and encouragement once in a while.

Actually, a lot and often. Wanting to find out how we as congregants could best support these sweet women of the faith, I asked them to share some things they most need from us. Here’s what they said, and they all have asked to remain anonymous:

Be a Friend

You might be surprised to learn loneliness is a huge issue for pastor’s wives. Some of this is due to trust concerns, having been hurt or betrayed in the past. Other times it stems from false expectations or assumptions made by the congregants. But whatever the reason, it’s a common problem.

Many times, we assume everyone else is socializing with the PW. We don’t want to burden them with yet another invitation, and yet, the truth is, many times they go uninvited. Then, when they are invited, they’re often treated more like a sounding board or counselor than a true friend.

But one can only give so much before their emotional reserves run dry. Our pastor’s wives need someone to minister to them. Someone who will engage them as unique individuals, and simply be a friend.

Allow Imperfections

There was only one Jesus. Only one man who always said the right thing, always responded appropriately, never acted selfishly. Your pastor’s wife isn’t him. This means she’s going to do and say things that will hurt and offend you, as you also will do and say things that will hurt and offend her.

But it’s always easier to offer ourselves grace, isn’t it? We often make justifications for our behavior. We were stressed, or tired, or caught off guard. Yet somehow we believe our leaders and their families are above such things. As if they are instantly and always more righteous ... then everyone else on the planet. True, leadership comes with a certain amount of expectations and responsibilities, but even the best of us have bad days. Pastor’s wives included. When they do, we need to practice Paul’s words in Colossians:

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:12-13).

Make allowances for, rather than judgments against, one another’s faults. In other words, assume the best rather than the worst. And when your PW does indeed offend you, forgive her. Let the offense go. Don’t bring it up again, rehash it a million times, tell the entire choir about it, and hold it against her for eternity.

 

Throw Out False All Expectations

Have you noticed how much we like others to be like us? To reach the same conclusions we do, to face the same trials. In fact, we empathize most with those going through something we ourselves have experienced.

But what about someone who is walking a step behind us an area? What if that someone is our pastor’s wife? Do we allow her the same grace and patience Christ gave to us?

“Though my congregation doesn’t expect me to be perfect, they expect me not to struggle in areas where they themselves have achieved victory,” says one PW. “The problem, of course, is that 300 people have achieved victory in vastly different areas, and I’m only one person.”

Accept Them For Who They Are, Not Who You Want Them to Be

Some PWs like a large number of friends, want to be part of every social gathering, and are the first to organize the ladies potluck. That doesn’t make them shallow & flighty.

Others would rather stay home with a great book. That doesn’t make them aloof & elusive. Neither activity makes them more or less spiritual than the other. Rather, it makes them unique women of God, created by him, to do a work he planned long before she ever came to your church.

That work, believe it or not, is to honor God and take care of their families. It’s not to attend to everyone’s needs and desires in the church. First and foremost, your PW is called to be a wife and mother.

“My God-given role as pastor’s wife is to be the wife of the pastor,” one PW says. “It’s not to volunteer in the nursery or to play the piano during service. I share my husband’s burdens and joys. I keep the family calendar and make sure he gets to our kids’ soccer games and choir performances. I have only so much tolerance for those who are filled with criticism and complaints. I am my husband’s wife and I adore him.”

Don’t Worry How They Spend Their Money 

This is a big one, isn’t it? After all, we, the congregants, are paying their husband’s salary. Shouldn’t they be good stewards of the tithe?

Yep. The church as a whole should be very forthright and honorable in how it handles it finances. And yes, the pastor and his wife, as children of God, should seek to honor God with all they are and have. (As should each of us.) But what makes you think you know what that stewardship looks like for them? Because truly, they aren’t accountable to you. And there’s not much you can wisdom you can gauge from appearances.

Besides, don’t we all have better things to do, like supporting and loving on our leaders? Their jobs are hard enough. Why not help make it a little easier & their day a little brighter?

There are numerous things we, as congregants, can do to love and support our pastor’s wives. I’ve named a few, but really, they all boil down to living out Jesus’ words in Luke 6:31, which says, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you” NLT).

Show your pastor’s wife the love, admiration, grace, acceptance, and respect you yourself want to receive, not only during pastor’s appreciation month but year round.

Always remember, she’s only human, a human with very real needs, real emotions, and real faults. But more than that, she’s a child of God called to a very difficult task. Let’s do all we can to make that role a little easier.

About the author

Jennifer Slattery lives in the midwest with her husband and their teenage daughter. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, Internet Cafe Devotions, and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and compilation projects, and currently writes missional romance novels for New Hope Publishers.

Publication date: September 3, 2014

Source: http://www.crosswalkmail.com/ViewMessage.do?m=cqqtdqcjtq&r=ivgmvyccvbhb&s=thwmzjlcmwmlpcgbfrdsdljphffpwvldzzg&a=view
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/5-things-your-pastor-s-wife-needs-from-you.html

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thank you...yes you

As I thought about this post, "Thank you" were the 2 words that dropped in my heart. I know that October is Pastor/Clergy Appreciation Month so I decided to express some appreciation.

"When I was sick...

For a few weeks, if not months, this part of Matthew 25:36 has been ringing in my heart...and it took me a bit of time to pull my thoughts or heart-tugs together. Before we go further, let's read that section of the verse first:

Matthew 25:36b - "I was sick, and you cared for [visited; looked after] me. I was in prison, and you visited [came to] me.’" (Expanded Bible)

As I read and meditated on it, several questions came to my mind:

1. How many people would believe, let alone visit their Pastor (or his wife) if/when he/she is ill?
2. How many of the Pastor (or his wife's) "illnesses" are self-inflicted?
3. What can we - Pastor, Mrs Pastor and church members - do to prevent Pastor (and/or his wife) from falling ill in the first place?

A few priceless answers - that require persistent action - come to mind:

The 1st thing everyone including Pastor and Mrs Pastor need to realize is that they are human. I've talked about this before*. So if they ( I mean, "we") don't take the time to develop and maintain healthy living habits, chances are that the promise of divine health will not be fulfilled in our lives. Living a healthy life includes our diet, bedtime and exercise. A lot of us cut out the exercise part forgetting that: " [For] Training your body [Physical exercise] helps you in some [or small] ways , but serving God [godliness] helps you in every way ·by bringing you blessings [since it holds promise] in this life and in the future life, too." (1 Tim 4:8 - Expanded Bible, emphasis mine). A lot of us focus on the 2nd part of the verse but the 1st half is just as important.
Even John F. Kennedy said:

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body,

it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity."

 

The 2nd thing, is for Pastors and Mrs Pastors to not only disciple but also delegate things to others...that's one sure way you can develop others in ministry. I've seen and unfortunately heard some Pastors and Mrs Pastors say things like: "He/she won't know what to do" or "He/she doesn't know how to do it (as well or as fast) as I can (or would prefer)" - yes that's sad. In life, I have learned several things, these 2 are relevant here: Practice makes progress and My way of doing things is not the best or only way. If you keep an open mind and give people space to function, you can improve yourself too. Ronald Reagan, another US President has this advice for us: "Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."

So really all we need to do is to be clear on the vision and let others run with it...

We see the instruction to disciple and delegate in 2 Tim 2:2 and Hab 2:2 respectively

 

"You have often heard me teach.

Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others." (CEV)

"Write my answer plainly on tablets, 

so that a runner can carry the correct message to others." (NLT)

The 3rd thing is you must do is, if you do fall ill, take the time to take care of yourself. Whether or not others visit and or care for you, care for yourself. Sometimes we want to keep going and "manage" the unhealthy situation. You cannot expect that by continuing to rush around, the illness will run away. I can tell you, from personal experience, that it won't. The illness will actually just be fuelled to dig it's roots deeper and deeper because you're not giving your body time to regain strength to fight that internal war. We should learn to listen to our bodies when they whisper before they start shouting and - God forbid - shutting down.

 

Divine healing is a wonderful benefit for us; divine health is better... and to some extent, it is dependent on our healthy living which includes regular rest. It's wonderful to be visited when you are sick but even better to be visited when you are well...

 

Sources:

*http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.ca/2012/10/pastor-is-not-superman.html