I love being the wife of a man who is a pastor. I distinctly remember a time as a young person deciding that being married to a pastor lacked calling, distinction, passion, or imagination plus it scared me to death! Certainly not what I wanted for my life. I had dreams of serving my Lord as a teacher on a mission field with an equally zealous man.
Mission accomplished! Teacher…check! Missionary…check! Man with Godly zeal… check!
My life was being played out as I had prayed and planned full of calling, distinction, passion, and imagination! Living the dream… my dream.
Then God moved.
And my husband felt God’s call to, you guessed it, the pastorate. Wow! Without even consulting me!! My perfect dream… poof! Lord, why?
Well…suffice to say, I struggled for much of our first years in pastoral ministry. I fought (first loudly, then quietly) and resented God’s trajectory for our life. I remember one particular conversation I had with Father. I said with fear, “But, Lord, what if it all goes south? What if taking this pastorate leaves us hurting and wounded, Lord?” I remember the Holy Spirit whispering to me, “Will you trust me even if it does?” It was a gauntlet of love thrown.
“Will you, Wendy?”
I picked it up.
Fast forward ten years to today. I had chuckled much like Sarah did upon hearing about Isaac… the sweet, redeeming, irony of the Creator’s plans. Today, with joy, I see my life, as if I’m watching from the best theatre box seat owned by the Great KING himself and I, His child. I sit beside Him, front and center, watching and responding to an epic story of His creation and created ones. He shows me things too marvelous for words. He urges me to respond with gladness or tears. He moves me and outfits me with love towards His people. He compels me to engage Him on behalf of His people by standing in the gap by prayer. Where I sit as a partner in my husband’s ministry, I have the privilege to see and experience by His invitation God’s redemptive work first hand. This is such a beautiful gift, one filled with calling, distinction, passion and full of scope for the imagination.
Why do I love being the wife of a pastor? I love the view from the front row seats.
Leadership is picking up the gauntlet of love.
Our Guest Blogger, Mrs. Wendy Fletcher, is a skilled Puppeteer, Drama and Children’s Director, wife of Rev. Mike Fletcher at Drumheller Fellowship Baptist Church and the mother of three dynamic grown children. It has been my privilege to call them friends for the last 15 years.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com
