what's your GOOD STUFF?

Our column the GOOD STUFF wants to hear from you!

What are the best things about being married to a pastor? Your fave perks? The stuff you're most grateful for? Your biggest blessings?

Share with us by email at: clutchtalk [at] gmail [dot] com. Illustrative photos/captions are welcome.

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the good stuff

5th weekends!!

In many denominations, when pastors serve more than one church they alternate weekends between congregations.

Three or four times a year there will come a month that has five weekends instead of four. Those weekends are "off". They get to be spent with the grandparents, or on a romantic getaway, or just sitting through a worship service together as a family/couple in another church listening to someone ELSE preach!

No matter what you do, if you get 5th weekends off it's special. Especially when they coincide with long holidays like Memorial Day!

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

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the good stuff #7

Penny, from New Orleans, writes:

I've read all the previous "good stuff" posts and TOTALLY agree with the weekday day off sentiment.  Nothing better than going to breakfast with my PH on Friday mornings.  They are super special around our house.

I also love when someone encourages instead of critiques a sticky church situation - business meetings and the like.  I love when church correction is met with an "Amen" or "Good word!" - those times make me smile.

But one of the things that I really like is when he does a wedding!  I get to see my hero husband, all dressed up in a very romantic setting.  It's a chance for us to go out - (a date!) all dressed up, get a baby sitter and dance the night away... all the while getting paid to do so!!!  Can't beat that!  Thanks God for the small blessings!  They usually are unforgettable!

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the good stuff #6

... knowing the funny/weird/crazy side of that serious guy in the pulpit. No matter how real he is, no matter how genuine, there's always a private side to the preacher. And as PWs, we know the man he is at home. (Of course, for some of us that picture may sadly not always be pretty - but it can often be good, too!)

And sometimes it can be incredibly endearing to know the softer, gentler, funnier, crazier side of the preacher!

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the good stuff #5

Empathy.

Yes, our beloved PH's spend a lot of time helping other people, listening to other people, caring for other people, and fixing other people's problems. 

Fortunately (if your PH is willing), all that experience with others can give him the incredible gift of empathy.

(If you're like me, you may wonder what empathy is, and is it the same as sympathy? So I looked it up to be sure. 

empathy |ˈempəθē|  noun
the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

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sympathy |ˈsimpəθē| noun

feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune

Sympathy is great, but empathy is even better!)

As I've watched my husband minister over the last 7 years, I've seen his empathy grow for problems at home and within our families as a direct result of being so involved in helping other people. It has strengthened our family harmony and to me, that's a real PW perk!

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the good stuff #4

Jana writes:

For us the GOOD STUFF includes:
We take Monday's off as a family.   It is great for going to the movies, shopping without crowds and trips to Disney Land.

Having a church family who love and encourage us on a regular basis.

Going to the beach as a youth activity!  Who else gets paid to splash in the waves and tan all day?

Being in the youth ministry also helps me stay up to date on music and fashion. That is always a good thing... no "mom jeans" here!

We have seen so much of the world on missions trips!  I would have never visited those amazing places if we weren't in the ministry.

Ministry conferences...need I say more?  Those are the BEST!

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the good stuff #3

LaVonne writes: 

In the afternoons, unless he is doing visitation he is with us at home. We can go to the park, beach, or zoo if we want. I love that. 

We have wonderful family time. He used to get home from work at 6:30pm and then only have a small amount of family time each day [before he was a minister]. But now, it is so nice to do family things in the daytime. His nights, mornings and weekends might be busy, but afternoons - we love them together.

LaVonne is married to an ordained minister who travels giving seminars. 

Check out their ministry blog at: www.longsontheroadagain.blogspot.com

Or read LaVonne's personal blog at: www.longwaitforisabella.blogspot.com

 


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the good stuff #2

A couple of weeks ago we were having family worship as early morning sunshine streamed through our window. 

I listened to my husband's voice reading Scripture, while the baby nursed contentedly. And I couldn't help but thank God that my husband is a pastor. If he'd gone into international banking (as he originally planned, years ago), he'd probably be rushing out the door right now for a long commute in 6:45 AM traffic.

But instead he's here, and we're spending a little quality morning worship time. 

Today, I'm glad I'm a PW!

Got something you're thankful for about PW life? 

Send your "good stuff" to: clutchtalk (at) gmail (dot) com.

 
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the good stuff #1

Yes, the weekends are busy. We won't deny it.

But how many other grown men get to take a family day in the middle of the week to compensate for working all weekend? Spending Mondays with my PH and our little Goober is definitely something I wouldn't trade easily!

Got something you're thankful for about PW life? Send your "good stuff" to: clutchtalk (at) gmail (dot) com.

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the good stuff...

Being a PW is hard work. Some days are heartbreaking, other days bring joyous rewards.

In the middle of surviving the busyness, the taking care of people's needs, the serving others whether our own needs have been met or not, the living in a fishbowl... you get the idea.

In the middle of all that - it's easy for us to forget the great things about being married to a pastor. 

It's easy to get swept up in the chaos, or the sheer volume of need, or even the boring routine of it all - and forget that God led us to a special life of ministry. 

So, to help us remember, Fridays are hereby dedicated to "the good stuff" - at least for a while. To remind us as we head into the weekend, that there are definitely perks to being a PW. 

"the good stuff" is also an open forum. If you've got something about PW life that you're especially thankful for, send us an email and we'll post your good stuff on an upcoming Friday! 

Feel free to include a photo to illustrate. Please include your name, city/state/country, and a valid email address in case we need to clarify anything (emails will NOT be included in your post).

Send your "good stuff" to: clutchtalk (at) gmail (dot) com.

© CLUTCH, 2010 unless otherwise sourced.
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