Skip to main content

It's the Thought That Counts...Or Is It?

I did a mini survey of Pastor's Wives and Women in Ministry and of the oddest, funniest, coolest gifts they had ever gotten. There is a reason behind the madness. I start laughing at the thought of the gifts that people give ministry families. I asked myself this question as I was putting away a food basket that had been given to us by a church as I had to throw out most of the food items because some of them had been dated as old as I was. One in particular can of string beans, if that's what they still were, was dated 1972. 1972??? Really??? I was shocked and then I started to laugh taking note of the person who had given us the item so that we would avoid dinner dates at their home...LOL!! In our short years of ministry I've received self help books on how to avoid conflict in my life, how to become spiritually mature, what not to wear, and how to pray as a Pastor's wife, Weight Watchers cook books, tips on how to clean and maintain a home and the list goes on. But I have also received a brand new Coach bag(my baby) from the ladies of our current church, we have received trips, a car ( not a Mercedes or Volvo but still a free car that runs beautifully), dinners, pedicures, spa massages, free babysitting, country decor (my favorite), notes and emails on how much our ministry has meant and helped (love these) and so much more. We are a very blessed family. But those that gave the previous gifts (and the following), what were you thinkin'??
Here are just a few of the gifts other ministry families and PW's have received...so funny!
   4 Potatoes and a bottle of Olive Oil (That's it)...they're still a little confused.
   A pot of chicken feet soup - which the PW thought was a joke but actually turned out to be a real gift.     The woman was offended and never returned to the church....we all said "Ouch"
   A book on Mormonism, Highlighted and doggie-eared...I think they wanted to send a clear message....READ IT!
   The Pastor received a Gift Card to a suit store. "Since he does not wear a suit to preach they assumed he just didn't have one :)"
   A bag of clothes with trash and half eaten pizza. They must've thought it was trash not realizing it was the bag of clothes they were donating to the Pastor's family.
  "We church in the country. we get lots of food items...or items that people call food. I would call them pets."
We are a rare breed, PW's, and we are honored to serve, but I did want to let you in into our world for a little while. To let you see some of the things we experience. We laugh and we cry together. And no matter where we are in this great country of ours or even the world, we share many similar experiences. We love and are loved. We feel deeply what we can't share with the world. But we feel privileged and honored to do what we do. 
I serve alongside my husband in the greatest church, Transformation Church. We are loved deeply and they demonstrate that everyday. Ministry is not easy but serving them and loving the people @ TC is. Because we love what we do.
Lesson here...laugh. I try to give what I would like to get for myself. Sometimes I do. Joe gets so mad at me and says, "I thought you got that for so and so, but you are wearing it." "I got two", I tell him. He just rolls his eyes realizing it's a lost cause. He loves me anyway.
There's nothing like being a PW! Here's to us (holding a nice hot cup of java). Cheers!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Married and Watching the "How to Be Single Life"

I don't know what I was thinking. Really! It was a moment of insanity or wanting a girls night or maybe wanting a good laugh. I can't tell you exactly what it was but I did it. I went to see "How to Be Single." I usually research any movie we watch as a family or that my kids want to watch. But I actually thought this movie would be a cross between "My Greek Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Notebook." I thought it would be clever and funny and silly. But what I got was raunchy, nasty, way too sexual and just plain not funny. There was no depth to any of the characters, they were either high, drunk, having a crisis or sleeping and kissing with someone. I sure pray that this generation isn't doing life like this. I didn't hear shock or disbelief in the crowd that I was in. I heard tons of laughter. I had every intention of walking out after the first scene which I was mortified at because I had invited. two. ladies. from. MY. CHURCH!!!! I thought ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Deal With It

Dealing with the scary issues in our lives, well, it's just that....scary! I can attest that there have been many instances in my life where I would rather ignore major issues, struggles, worries, and fears for fear that it will not be pretty. Let's be honest, dealing with serious issues and wounds cause our hearts to race, forcing our minds to remember, in turn having the pain resurface. It was painful once, why  feel it again? Personally, when I had to deal with the abuse I experienced as a child, it was just plain bad. It was messy, physically, mentally and emotionally...not just for me but for those around me. There were a lot of tears...I call them "cleansing" tears. Many women have stuffed their emotions so far down that they can't remember exactly what, just that it was extremely painful. It's been 10, 15, 30 years and still the abandonment, abuse, neglect has not been dealt with by many of us. Because feeling it would make us remember and remembering ...
2 comments
Read more

Stand

When you have tried it all....Stand! When you have cried and pleaded...Stand! When you have yelled and screamed...Stand! When you have prayed and feel like the heavens are like brass...Stand! Stand, immovable, firm, rooted in the truth. The truth that "this too shall pass." That one day you will look back and maybe even laugh at the situation you are now facing. A wonderful story that came to my attention is the story of the Women of Paradise Road. These were the wives of military officers, taken captive by the Japanese in Southeast Asia during WW II. These women were elite and came from affluent and influential heritage. But they were taken and separated from their husbands and children and brutalized, tortured, starved and deprived of civility. Yet somehow they made it. Two years of neglect and death and yet they made it. How? What was it that gave them the strength to endure, to persevere? What was that one thing that made them keep going? They didn't know when help wa...
1 comment
Read more