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The Loneliest Job In America: Being the Pastor’s Wife — The Light Breaks Through

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Pastor’s wives often have unrealistic expectations placed on them, leading to even more loneliness.

The Loneliest Job In America: Being the Pastor’s Wife — The Light Breaks Through

I stumbled across this post by Pastor Keith Haney by accident but as Gibbs tells us on NCIS “There’s no such thing as and accident!” My wife and I got a few real laughs reading it together because it is such a real struggle. It reminds me of an evening many years ago in the church we attended. The service was drawing to a close and the pastor gave an altar call but no one came. So he extended the call a second time saying, “I just feel someone really needs a touch from God tonight.” Then to everyone’s surprise the lone person who walked up to the altar was his wife. As the ladies gathered around to pray for her she suddenly collapsed and an ambulance was called. Panic set in as the emergency workers carted poor Brenda off to the hospital. Once there they hooked her up to an IV and did an intensive exam, only to discover that she had simply fainted from exhaustion! This is a true story and one that taught us all the value of our pastor’s wife. She had been running so hard to keep up with all of our expectations that she needed that altar call more than any of us. I am happy to report that she received much more support, understanding and admiration once she returned home. Please never take that sweet lady who God has called in your church to be the pastor’s wife!

Rejoicing Together Again

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Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6 ESV

During the pandemic many of us began to get just a small taste of the loneliness that those living in long term care face daily. During the height of the lockdowns people rarely left home and when forced to go out, there was both social distancing, as well as the wearing of masks making everyone seem anonymous. Some of us dealt with the isolation by watching endless reruns, others rearranged the furniture or put together 1,000-piece puzzles. While these activities distracted us for a while, our problem was that God created us for community. We were created to share life together. Now, after more than a year of social separation many of us have forgotten how to connect. The good news is that God has a restoration plan. Notice that today’s reading focuses on the word “Us”. Just as the Lord’s Prayer begins with, “Our Father”. This Psalm of David begins with the cry, “Revive us!”

His prayer reminds me of a story my father told me of his time in the war. During the invasion of Anzio his landing craft was hit with a bomb. His ship exploded and he along with everyone on aboard were thrown into the sea. Dad only remembered beginning to swim and then losing consciousness. Later he woke up on the beach with a severe head wound. His unit had been separated by death and destruction, and yet his healing took place in a hospital, surrounded by other people. That is what God has for us today as well. He has a plan to revive and restore each one of us. No bombs that have separated us in this battle can destroy God’s plan. If we put our trust in Him, our wounds will heal and by His grace we can rejoice together again!

Like a Home Coming!

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On my first time into Watermark Assisted Living since the beginning of the pandemic, it was great hearing my friends sing, taking their requests for songs and finding out that one elderly lady took on leading Bible studies once a week since they had been closed down. We often hear or even say things about God being in control but it is amazing to actually see how He has been doing it!

Here I am visiting after the service. We actually had a full room during our time of singing and prayer

Here is a photo of just visiting with some of my friends at Watermark after church. The room was almost full during our first church meeting we have had after 14 months of COVID. What a blessing. If you have been vaccinated, live in the North Tampa area and would like to help out let me know. For now we have been invited to meet every other Sunday at 11 AM. God has been faithful! So much to tell but space will not allow here!