Thankful Shoes

As I write about wearing thankful shoes, I am simply grateful to have a new picture to use. (The blessing of a new computer has produced the necessity to learn how to access pictures!) This young boy lives in an orphanage in Uganda. Knowing that guests would be coming to visit, he dressed in his snowsuit, placing flip-flops on his tiny feet, and a shy smile on his face. It was evident that he was thankful for his clothing. Are you thankful for yours?

The struggle to move past the pain of the past eight months has blurred my vision. I have been focusing on the loss of ministry, the loss of friends, and the loss of our church family. Somewhere in the struggle, there was a clear impression from the Holy Spirit, "Maintain a grateful heart." But, how? The answer is fairly simple: stop looking at the pain and start looking at ALL for which you can be thankful. A common concept, right? Maybe even a bit trite. But how are you doing ?

A few nights ago, my husband and I were lying in bed, listing all the many blessings that God had given to us. It was a long list. As we made the list, my attitude began to change. First, there was a keen sense of shame for the lack of thankfulness. Second came an overwhelming sense of gratitude and a desire to thank the Giver. "Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!"

As we finished our list that night, we arrived at the ultimate point of thanksgiving. We remembered again the bloody cross and the gift of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ alone. God sent his own son to die so that we can live in the hope of eternal life. I have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Such beautiful clothing. Such a gift. Such a Savior.

Dear PW sisters, I encourage you to begin the new day with an attitude of thanksgiving. Before you even jump out of bed, thank God that you are alive. When you set your feet on the floor, thank Him that you can walk. As you brush your teeth, thank your Heavenly Father that you have teeth to brush! Stop focusing on what is bad, and focus on what is good. Be especially thankful for your clothes.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you..." (Psalm 42: 5-6a) 

Work Shoes

As a result of the dramatic changes that have taken place in the life of my husband and I , it has been necessary to wear some work shoes that I really do not want to wear. What do I mean by that? The simple answer is that we have bills to pay, our income was sharply reduced, and we need money!  Whether or not I want to do the work,  feel called to the work, or enjoy the work is not the issue. Am I happy about the situation? Not really.

There is a problem here, and it's my problem. I need to take a second look at "work". The fact is, I have been called to wear  these work shoes, and in putting them on I am serving Christ. God recently reminded me of a verse I frequently quote to my children. It is Ephesians 3:23-24:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

Notice that these verses do not say, "When you do work that you want to do..." Nor do they say, "When you do work that you enjoy.."  The term used is "whatever". This means everything - no exceptions!

 I have been given these  work shoes to wear right now. To know that I am serving my Lord as I work should make a difference in my attitude. I should want to wear them - to serve the One who gave His life for me. I should enjoy wearing them - to know that I can honor Him.

Father God, forgive my small view of your calling. Forgive me when I do not work as heartily as I should!

Work Shoes, here I come!

Rain Shoes

I'm wearing my rain shoes again. I've worn them a lot these past seven or eight months. At first I was wearing them every day. Now, I put them on at unexpected times. It could happen when I am in the grocery store, or working as a retail sales associate. Sometimes I'm at a local eatery or craft shop. Wherever it is, the change of shoes takes place in the same manner. First, I see someone from our previous place of ministry. Next, there is an awkward moment as we exchange a glance, acknowledging the other's presence. Then there is usually the same question posed: "How's _________?(my husband) I answer that he is doing fine - what else am I to say? Finally, as the individual departs, I begin to change into my rain shoes. It can happen immediately or gradually, but it happens. It rains....from my eyes.

Last night my almost twelve year old son had to put on his rain shoes too. He misses his friends, friends he has had since he was born. My son shared that, because of all that had happened, his relationship with those friends has been forever altered. He will never be as close to them as he would have been. I sadly agreed with him, feeling helpless and frustrated.

As I continued to converse with my son, I shared with him some verses in the Psalms that have filled me with encouragement and hope.The verses are found in Psalm 126: 5-6 :

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him."

When I shared these verses with my son, his reponse was, "Well, we are going to have a lot of songs!" He is right! I am excited to sing those songs with him. The rain shoes will come off and the dance shoes will take their place.

Dear Sisters, fellow PW's, be encouraged. You will not always be wearing your rain shoes! God will enable us to persevere as we sow. He will strengthen us. We can sow our tears with the confidence that we will also reap songs of joy. Live in that truth this week!

Baby Shoes

Greetings to my fellow PW's. This is my first entry into the world of blogging. Clearly, I am not fully sure of what I am supposed to do. But I have this clear compulsion- to do something to encourage my sisters who share that very heavy title of "Pastor's Wife". I have had the title for about 27 years and would like to be able to share with you out of the experience of those years. I wonder, are any of you hurting? Are you frustrated with the expectations of your position? Are you seeking to understand how you walk in the role of a pastor's wife? Are you weary of even thinking about it? I ask these questions in part because they comprise some of the questions I have asked.

My goal? To bring refreshment to you, to walk with you, to enourage you. My shoes for the week are baby shoes because this is a baby blog. Today I am putting on my baby shoes to take some tiny steps along the path to fulfilling the God-given desire to speak life into the lives of my sisters. Will you join me on that path?