I confess that I did not know that March was Pastors\u2019 Wives Appreciation Month until someone told me. Most congregations know about October and Pastor Appreciation Month but I wonder how many are aware that there is a month for Pastors\u2019 Wives appreciation.\u00a0 I think the feelings of being unappreciated, perceived or real, is one of the driving forces behind some of the \u201cnegative publicity\u201d we see regarding pastors\u2019 wives.<\/p>\n
According to a survey by the Global Pastors Wives Network, \u201c8 out of 10 pastors\u2019 wives say they feel unappreciated or unaccepted by their husband\u2019s congregation.\u201d\u00a0 I agree with Joanna Breault\u2019s comment in a Christianity Today<\/em> article, \u201cMy hunch is that many of those congregations do appreciate and accept their pastors\u2019 wives; the wives just don\u2019t know it.\u201d<\/p>\n When Doug and I were pastoring, there were those members of the congregation that I called our cheerleaders.\u00a0\u00a0 The thoughts of them still make me smile.\u00a0 People like Kenneth Dantzler, Roy Wood, Sarah Wilson, Nell Hartsfield, Lorraine Melton and many others made pastoring a joy.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure I was fully aware of their effect on my life until after the pastorate when I had time and perspective to reflect.\u00a0\u00a0 While there were some difficult days, because of our cheerleaders difficulties did not become the defining word over our pastorate.<\/p>\n Another blessing that I\u2019ve come to appreciate more and more is that the Franklin Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church didn\u2019t put expectations on me that were outside of my giftings.\u00a0 I know there are situations where the church expects the pastor\u2019s wife to fill a multitude of positions from music, to teaching, to hospitality.\u00a0\u00a0 They graciously let me serve in the music ministry but never put any pressure on me to cook dishes for dinners.\u00a0 However, in the beginning of our ministry, because of my insecurity and self-imposed pressure, I thought I needed to serve on the hospitality committee.\u00a0\u00a0 I will never forget the relief I felt when one of the ladies lovingly let me know that \u201cthey\u2019ve got this\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I understood that the ladies were not excluding me but were actually more sensitive than I was to the demands I was making on myself.<\/p>\n In terms of family, I\u2019m thankful that our children have not and do not resent the church because of the demands that can be placed on the family.\u00a0 I\u2019m thankful that we did not have a congregation that expected our children to be the neighborhood saints!\u00a0\u00a0 They allowed our children to be like anyone else\u2019s. \u00a0While we did try to model a Christian home, no unrealistic expectations were placed on us.<\/p>\n My final word of gratitude for our pastorate was dispelling the myth that you couldn\u2019t have close friends.\u00a0 The Franklin Springs Church had an excellent reputation in regards to the music program.\u00a0\u00a0 There were many Sundays when the offertory played by Barbara James and Jesse Brafford brought as much ministry and healing as any spoken word.\u00a0 After both Barbara and Jesse retired from their positions, imagine my fear and trepidation when I was called, not by the congregation or by Doug, but by God to be the pianist at the church.\u00a0 I tried to give Him every reason I could think of as to why this was a bad idea.\u00a0 I took Moses\u2019 lament from,\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t talk good to I can\u2019t play good\u201d and \u201cdo you know my brother Aaron\u201d to \u201cdo you know Carol White\u201d!\u00a0 When He finally asked if I was telling Him no, I surrendered and told Him I would do it, but please send someone who would be patient with me.\u00a0\u00a0 In an answer to prayer that blesses me to this day, God sent Frieda Thornton.\u00a0 She remains one of my closest friends.<\/p>\n I tell you this to encourage anyone who is currently serving in the calling of Pastor\u2019s Wife.\u00a0 Remember it is a calling and know without a doubt God will equip you and be with you through the marvelous journey.\u00a0\u00a0 It may be a roller coaster ride with it ups and downs and unexpected turns, but believe me, in the end it is a ride I am exceeding thankful that I didn\u2019t miss!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[180,289,299],"class_list":{"0":"post-790","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general","8":"tag-180","9":"tag-march","10":"tag-ministers-wives-month","11":"entry"},"title_es":"Las esposas de los ministros Mes 2016","content_es":"
![\"Ministros](\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2016\/03\/Ministers-Wives-Month-16-NS.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n