take two

When you are in full time ministry your whole family is in full time ministry. It's a wonderful, fulfilling life that I wouldn't trade for the world but it comes with it's challenges. Just like all other career choices we, in ministry, feel conflicted about whether or not we want our children to follow in our footsteps. Of course, it's a great honor to be called into full time ministry but when your career is also your hobby AND the weight of reaching the world for Christ seems to rest heavily on your shoulders you tend to put in too much overtime and take your "job" a bit too seriously. Look, I get it, no need to lecture me, I realize that being called into full time ministry isn't more important than any other job and I also realize that the weight of the world's salvation is NOT literally ON our shoulders...however, it is so hard to separate your day to day "work" from the reality of eternity in the lives of those around you. The struggle is real, as they say. It's easy to resent the ministry just as families might resent the military or a hospital or an office building for taking so much of their families time but more often than not the joy of living everyday in full time ministry is something I wouldn't trade for the world. And when we get to work as a family that joy is increased one hundred fold. 

It's hard to teach your kids in ministry that they aren't entitled or privileged in some way. The church is literally a second home to them and they often become TOO comfortable...but getting them involved in what we do makes my heart full. This fall the boys got to be in a sermon series video for our church. It was fun to take them into the attic studio, watch them rehearse their lines and then ultimately see them on the big screen before our pastor took the platform to preach. I don't know what my boys will do with their lives as adults but I'm proud to show them what mom and dad do, tell them WHY we do it and then see what God has in store for them as individuals. I pray that no matter what they do in the future they will live everyday for Christ. After all, we are all in full time ministry whether we clock in at the church office day in and day out or not.