“But
Ruth replied (to her mother-in-law), "Don't urge me to leave you or to
turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.
Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16 NIV
March
is National Women’s History Month. I would like to honor parsonage women,
spouses of pastors.
As
the wife of a minister, I remember my first women’s meeting at a new church we
began serving. A woman asked an innocent question. “What do you believe is the
role of the pastor’s wife and their children?”
My
answer was simple, “My children are on display for no one.” As to the roll of
the pastor’s wife, I said, “God has given me some talents and training, one is
vocal music. I would like to sing in the choir. Another is my degree in
Education so I’d like to teach a Sunday school class if needed.” Then, I
thought of the hundreds of women who have moved to join congregations and are
completely misunderstood. I smiled and added, “Sorry, even with a minor in
music, I do not play the piano; and, I have no particular talent in the
kitchen. With my husband gone nearly every evening, I will be home with our
children. I’ll not be at the church every time the lights are on.” Sounds
harsh? No, it’s honest—no surprises, no disappointments, no failed
expectations.
I
honor all those wives and parsonage families who have to find a new physician every
few years in a completely strange community. They must search out the most
economic local grocery; which vet is best for their pets; organize play-dates
for their lonely children; seek which merchants to trade with in order to not
offend members of the church; . . . those who wait at home night after night
for their minister husband to come home from meetings. I honor all those women
who rear their children to walk in the footprints of Christ, who show up for
recitals, track meets, and gather around the kitchen table every night to
complete homework. I honor the love and loyalty they give to their husbands whom
God called into ministry. The Lord God also called their spouse into the
blessed unit called “family.” I honor parsonage women who create “family” for
their children and respect their husband, even when absent. Let us pray”
“Father
God, creator of all there is, you have called some into a walk with you that
requires uprooting young plants from their bed of security. Holy is your name
and blessed are those who walk in your paths. I ask that you bless all those
women who honor you by keeping their children safe so that the world may not
touch them, even though they are dug-up and replanted in new soil. May that
newness be a blessing and fresh nourishment, not a curse on those who love and
follow you. We give up all sense of “home-town” and claim Heaven as our home.
In the name of Jesus Christ whom we follow, I pray. Amen”
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His
love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2017 Doris Gaines Rapp
Another blog: www.dorisgainesrapp.blogspot.com
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
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