Quiet, polite, smiling, hopeful, sweet, .....in short a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down.
Maybe we should look at pastor's wives from the perspective of what the pastor needs in order to be able to lead his church, rather than what the church thinks they need from her. For example, a Pastor needs his wife to not only be his biggest fan, but also his biggest protector. Many people think that this means a pastor's wife should follow quietly behind her husband ready to catch them if they fall, but I propose a different course of action.
I think it would be more effective for a pastor's wife to secretly go before her husband and his ministry in order to take some of the bullets for him. When the President comes to town his security detail does not follow quietly behind. He is completely surrounded by them. He never steps foot in a location where his team of protectors has not gone before him.
How about a biblical example... the bible often compares a husband and wife to Christ and the Church. When you think about Christ's time of ministry, it would be a mistake to forget about John the Baptist. His entire life was devoted to preparing the way for Christ. He had his own calling and by following after it he created a great set-up for Christ to walk into when the time came. John the Baptist certainly didn't impress the religious... but what would have been the consequences if he had not gone after the passion that God had placed in his heart. I truly believe that John the Baptist took some of the bullets for Christ that allowed Christ's ministry to be what it was.
I think that a Pastor's wife has just as high of a calling as her husband. Often Christ places a burden for her church in the heart of a pastors wife, that we stifle by asking them to fit into the social circles. I am ready for a new generation of pastor's wives; those that are ready to follow after their own calling, which will in turn prepare the way for their husband to walk in.
So to the world I say, watch out! The next generation of Pastor's wives is rising up ready to have the tough conversations with the women of her church about what it means to submit to their husbands. Who are not afraid to stand up to church members in gossiping situations. Who are willing to get down on their knees in front of the church on beg for Christ's presence.
Yes, they will certainly take some bullets, since these are not the social graces we are accustomed to, but maybe it will allow our pastors to walk in more victory.
Passionate, Conquering, Brave, Loving, Selfless, Wise, a heart after Christ.
...These are the words I hope describe the next generation of Pastors wives.
