Today, I would like to share a really unique kind of love, a love unlike any other I have ever experienced. The love I speak of is the love of a pastor (shepherd) for his congregation (flock). It is the most difficult type of love I have ever seen man struggle with. Here is a man or woman that is called by God and directed by God yet expected to serve at the "pleasure" of the congregation.
The denomination I belong to "votes" to accept or reject a pastor, therefore, he literally serves at the will and the whim of the congregation no matter how backslidden that congregation may be. Yet, this man is expected to also serve God first and foremost. Do you see the tension here? Add to all of this the fact that the pastor is a human being faced with all the faults and failures inherent in that condition and you can see how impossible his task is.
Yet pastors regularly visit the sick, witness to the lost, pray with the broken hearted, walk along side those that are going through difficult times (I know because a Minister of Music walked with me the two times my husband was hospitalized) and rejoice with those that are rejoicing. They are "on call" twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Many times their families will go a week or more without seeing them because they have left early to pray with someone before surgery and come home late after some church committee meeting. They also put in forty hours or more on the music that leads us to a state of worship or their sermons for Sunday in addition to all their other duties. I, personally, can't remember ever spending time with any member of a church staff without the phone ringing at least once every fifteen minutes ( sometimes once every five minutes) and people just "poking their head in to say hello, or ask a question." Yet, God gives the the patience to deal with all these interruptions and redeems the time so that they may carry out what HE has called them to do, lead the flock.
Pastors work ungodly hours for little or no pay because church's believe that the "rewards of full time ministry" should be compensation enough. The Bible states that " a workman is worth his hire" and we wouldn't hesitate to quote that scripture when asking for a yearly raise or bonus. Yet we hesitate to do the same thing for our church staff. All in all, pastoring a church must be a labor of love otherwise there would be no pastors and I haven't even mentioned the constant gossip, backbiting, feuding, lack of common respect, and criticism that is a large part of their daily diet.
The pastors I have known have somehow risen above all of these negatives to supernaturally love their people. In spite of working conditions that none of us would submit ourselves to, they find time to give a hug or a word of encouragement to all they meet. They even find time to offer Christ's love to strangers! And they love one and all unconditionally with the love of God!
Every month should be "Pastor Appreciation Month" and I believe that every person out there that has a pastor or teacher that has taken time out of an over packed schedule to talk to them or just to listen to them should start planning now a tangible way to show your appreciation. You don't have to spend a lot of money to show appreciation. We never have any trouble talking when we think something is wrong in the church so take that "talent" and use it to tell the pastor or church staff members in your life how much they mean to you. Let them know that you notice when he is tired from a busy week and offer to do some "secretarial" things for him. Offer to wash his car or take him out to a fast food restaurant for a quick bite. Take him to a coffee shop and buy him a cup of his favorite coffee or buy him a pound of a favorite coffee and present it to him as a token of your appreciation for all the hard, thankless work he puts in every day.
But the best present you can give him year round, is the permission to be human and to make mistakes. Pastors make the effort to love us not matter how unlovely we are. Now we need to take the opportunity to return that love no matter what mistakes or faults we may think exist in his life (How would you like to put your life under that microscope you look at the pastor's life through? Would you pass an inspection like that?) A simple "I love you" would probably shock the poor man/woman so badly you could be the first ones to the restaurant on Sunday!
Seriously, let's all make a concerted effort to start returning the love our pastors show every day. Like us, they, too, need to feel the love of fellow human beings. Do something today to show your pastor you love him/her. I KNOW they will appreciate it!
By the way, no, my husband is NOT a pastor and has never been a pastor. He is an audiological technician and before that he was a security guard and before that he was in I.T. I am writing from the heart of one who has been loved, comforted, mentored and cared for by a Minister of Music and his loving wife for ten years. This is my tribute to their calling and their willingness to follow and trust in God. They have been my example and I hope one day to be as close to God and as willing to serve Him as they are.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Love of Animals
I was reminded this past Tuesday that I had left out a type of love that we lucky humans would be lost without- the love of our pets. What other creature can love us so unconditionally and be so tuned in to our every mood? Let me tell you what happened Tuesday and you will see what I mean.
My husband and I have recently acquired a 4-month-old yellow lab puppy. We had owned the dog exactly eight days when I decided to take a walk with her Tuesday. She was walking about as good as any puppy that had been allowed to roam free on 34 acres the first month of her life could walk. She had grown accustomed to the leash, but was still trying to pull me along. As we walked in front of this particular house, I heard cries for help. I walked across the yard, dog in tow, to see what was the matter. As I peeked around the corner of the house, I saw a ninety-two-year-old man lying on the ground. Squirt and I went up to ask if he needed any help. When asked, he replied, "No, my wife is coming," and motioned across the rather large side yard.
I looked where he pointed and saw what appeared to be a woman in her late eighties or early nineties coming toward us carrying a chair. As she arrived on the scene, I offered to help her get her husband off the ground and into the chair. That's when I realized I could not help lift the man without letting go of the leash! I decided to chance having to chase Squirt because I KNEW the lady could not lift him all by herself.
So I got Squirt to sit and told her to stay, a command she had never heard in her whole life. She stayed and I helped to lift the man from the ground to the chair, waited a minute or two for him to make sure he was fine, and then from the chair to the swing. All during this time Squirt never moved. In fact, I think she never even twitched. She waited patiently with a very knowing look on her face. When I finally was able to go back to her and pick up the leash, she walked very calmly to the swing and lay down at my feet, almost as if she knew these people were fragile and she needed to be gentle.
The love of domesticated animals like dogs is priceless and far beyond my ability to understand. As far as I'm concerned, God worked a miracle that afternoon. He placed me in the right place at the right time and made a dog understand a command that she had never heard before. Now THAT is love!
My husband and I have recently acquired a 4-month-old yellow lab puppy. We had owned the dog exactly eight days when I decided to take a walk with her Tuesday. She was walking about as good as any puppy that had been allowed to roam free on 34 acres the first month of her life could walk. She had grown accustomed to the leash, but was still trying to pull me along. As we walked in front of this particular house, I heard cries for help. I walked across the yard, dog in tow, to see what was the matter. As I peeked around the corner of the house, I saw a ninety-two-year-old man lying on the ground. Squirt and I went up to ask if he needed any help. When asked, he replied, "No, my wife is coming," and motioned across the rather large side yard.
I looked where he pointed and saw what appeared to be a woman in her late eighties or early nineties coming toward us carrying a chair. As she arrived on the scene, I offered to help her get her husband off the ground and into the chair. That's when I realized I could not help lift the man without letting go of the leash! I decided to chance having to chase Squirt because I KNEW the lady could not lift him all by herself.
So I got Squirt to sit and told her to stay, a command she had never heard in her whole life. She stayed and I helped to lift the man from the ground to the chair, waited a minute or two for him to make sure he was fine, and then from the chair to the swing. All during this time Squirt never moved. In fact, I think she never even twitched. She waited patiently with a very knowing look on her face. When I finally was able to go back to her and pick up the leash, she walked very calmly to the swing and lay down at my feet, almost as if she knew these people were fragile and she needed to be gentle.
The love of domesticated animals like dogs is priceless and far beyond my ability to understand. As far as I'm concerned, God worked a miracle that afternoon. He placed me in the right place at the right time and made a dog understand a command that she had never heard before. Now THAT is love!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Many Different Kinds of Love
Many times we become so obsessed with finding that "special" someone that we forget that there are many types of love. There is the love of a parent for a child; the love of a child for a parent; the love of grandparents; the love of brothers and sisters; the love of friends; even the love of a teacher for a student. It is this last kind of love that I want to talk with you about today.
I taught sixth graders for fifteen years. Through the years many students touched my life in a special way. They were the "rejects", the ones all the other teachers and the principal had given up on. The ones that no one thought were ever going to amount to anything. Truthfully, these students were my favorites.
Among my favorites, there was one that I will never forget as long as I live. His name was Jasper and if you looked in the dictionary under perpetual motion you would find his picture. As with most of my favorites, he had a hair trigger temper and some other serious emotional problems. But when Jasper smiled, he lit up the room. He had one of those smiles that expressed itself in his eyes, his body language, everywhere!
Jasper also had a wonderful, gentle way with small children. I can still see the primary children following him around at recess like the pied piper. They would listen to him too! He had trouble with his anger, but he could convince a crying second grader to calm down and do what the teacher asked them to do. He was truly a rescuer to me whenever it was necessary for me to correct a smaller child!
Jasper was also a Christian. He actually got baptized while he was one of my students. I always hated that I missed that service. I forget now what the reason was that I had to be at my own church that Sunday, but whatever the reason, I missed it. I missed the one moment that might have given me comfort now.
You see, in late July Jasper was stabbed to death in a senseless crime. Jasper was just eighteen with his whole life ahead of him. Now all that life, all that love, has been snuffed out.
I found out about his death while watching the late night news. My guess is that Jasper was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He kind of had a knack for that even in sixth grade. No reason has ever been given for his sudden, violent death and to my knowledge, no one has ever been apprehended.
What I do know is that Jasper will be missed terribly by his brother and mother as well as one retired sixth grade teacher. I also know that the world will be a little less bright because that wonderful, all-over smile is gone forever. I look forward to seeing Jasper in heaven and this time when I see him, I will be sure to tell him just how much I loved him and how much he changed my life.
I taught sixth graders for fifteen years. Through the years many students touched my life in a special way. They were the "rejects", the ones all the other teachers and the principal had given up on. The ones that no one thought were ever going to amount to anything. Truthfully, these students were my favorites.
Among my favorites, there was one that I will never forget as long as I live. His name was Jasper and if you looked in the dictionary under perpetual motion you would find his picture. As with most of my favorites, he had a hair trigger temper and some other serious emotional problems. But when Jasper smiled, he lit up the room. He had one of those smiles that expressed itself in his eyes, his body language, everywhere!
Jasper also had a wonderful, gentle way with small children. I can still see the primary children following him around at recess like the pied piper. They would listen to him too! He had trouble with his anger, but he could convince a crying second grader to calm down and do what the teacher asked them to do. He was truly a rescuer to me whenever it was necessary for me to correct a smaller child!
Jasper was also a Christian. He actually got baptized while he was one of my students. I always hated that I missed that service. I forget now what the reason was that I had to be at my own church that Sunday, but whatever the reason, I missed it. I missed the one moment that might have given me comfort now.
You see, in late July Jasper was stabbed to death in a senseless crime. Jasper was just eighteen with his whole life ahead of him. Now all that life, all that love, has been snuffed out.
I found out about his death while watching the late night news. My guess is that Jasper was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He kind of had a knack for that even in sixth grade. No reason has ever been given for his sudden, violent death and to my knowledge, no one has ever been apprehended.
What I do know is that Jasper will be missed terribly by his brother and mother as well as one retired sixth grade teacher. I also know that the world will be a little less bright because that wonderful, all-over smile is gone forever. I look forward to seeing Jasper in heaven and this time when I see him, I will be sure to tell him just how much I loved him and how much he changed my life.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
My Simply Romantic Anniversary
My husband and I celebrated our 31st anniversary last Monday and I think it was our most romantic yet! No, we didn't cruise the Caribbean or go to the beach or the mountains. We stayed in our local area and spent a wonderful time talking and reminiscing about our childhoods. Let me explain.
We couldn't travel this year because we had some financial issues so we agreed to keep it simple. My husband left the planning mostly to me and I took off with it. We started our day eating breakfast at a new restaurant in Covington, the closest town to where we live. Then, we headed for the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis, TN. My husband and I are native Memphians and remembered when all there was to the Pink Palace was the house that Clarence Saunders (founder of Piggly Wiggly) built but never lived in. Now there is a large, modern addition that houses lots of great exhibits. I got to "play" in the traveling, interactive music industry exhibit. We also went to the IMAX movie "Deep Blue Sea" which was breathtaking. After the movie, we grabbed a hot dog at the cafe and went through the other exhibits in the addition, all the while talking about what we were seeing and experiencing. We saved the best until last and went to see the exhibits we knew as children in the Pink Palace mansion. What a wonderful time of sharing happy memories of our childhood!
After the museum, we went to our favorite restaurant and each ordered our favorite dishes. We spent an hour talking and laughing about anything and everything. I absolutely loved every minute of it! We then packed up and drove home talking and laughing some more. All in all, it was one of the best, most romantic anniversaries we have ever had. And it didn't take much money, only time.
Now time is what romance is all about. Time focusing all your attention on each other. You don't have to go "out" or have an elaborate candlelight dinner in order to have romance. All you need is the other person and T-I-M-E, time. It doesn't even have to be a lot of time. Romance is measured in moments, not hours; minutes, not days; quality time, not quantity of time. It can be as simple as bringing something from the other room for another or fixing a favorite supper. It can even be as simple as turning over the remote for an evening and not complaining. Anything that helps your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend know that you are willing to pay attention to them and you have listened enough to know what is important to them and what is not.
So next time you wonder about what to do to create a little romance in your life, do something simple for your significant other and see their eyes light up because you took the time to think about them.
We couldn't travel this year because we had some financial issues so we agreed to keep it simple. My husband left the planning mostly to me and I took off with it. We started our day eating breakfast at a new restaurant in Covington, the closest town to where we live. Then, we headed for the Pink Palace Museum in Memphis, TN. My husband and I are native Memphians and remembered when all there was to the Pink Palace was the house that Clarence Saunders (founder of Piggly Wiggly) built but never lived in. Now there is a large, modern addition that houses lots of great exhibits. I got to "play" in the traveling, interactive music industry exhibit. We also went to the IMAX movie "Deep Blue Sea" which was breathtaking. After the movie, we grabbed a hot dog at the cafe and went through the other exhibits in the addition, all the while talking about what we were seeing and experiencing. We saved the best until last and went to see the exhibits we knew as children in the Pink Palace mansion. What a wonderful time of sharing happy memories of our childhood!
After the museum, we went to our favorite restaurant and each ordered our favorite dishes. We spent an hour talking and laughing about anything and everything. I absolutely loved every minute of it! We then packed up and drove home talking and laughing some more. All in all, it was one of the best, most romantic anniversaries we have ever had. And it didn't take much money, only time.
Now time is what romance is all about. Time focusing all your attention on each other. You don't have to go "out" or have an elaborate candlelight dinner in order to have romance. All you need is the other person and T-I-M-E, time. It doesn't even have to be a lot of time. Romance is measured in moments, not hours; minutes, not days; quality time, not quantity of time. It can be as simple as bringing something from the other room for another or fixing a favorite supper. It can even be as simple as turning over the remote for an evening and not complaining. Anything that helps your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend know that you are willing to pay attention to them and you have listened enough to know what is important to them and what is not.
So next time you wonder about what to do to create a little romance in your life, do something simple for your significant other and see their eyes light up because you took the time to think about them.
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