There are plenty of books on the market that claim to tell women how to be a great pastor's wife; how not to be a stressed out pastor's wife; how to love your position as a pastor's wife; how to survive living in the fishbowl atmosphere of life as a pastor's wife...
These books are usually filled with stories, and the stories you don't read about in books can be heard through the grapevine.
Have you heard the one about the couple who were having marital relations in the bedroom of the parsonage when a trustee walked in? They started the search for a house to buy that very day.
Have you heard the one about the female parishioner who fell passionately in love with her already married pastor? She has been referred to a professional for psychiatric care.
Have you heard the one about the pastor's family who arrived with their moving truck to find the parsonage already occupied? They camped out in the Sunday School class rooms while the squatters were evicted.
Every wife has a story.
As my husband nears graduation day and the prospect of his first call, I wonder how I would respond to some of these situations. But, my experience as the wife of a Seminarian; the wife of a field worker; and the wife of a vicar, has shown me that the blessings of this life far outweigh the possible awkward situations.
The blessings are tremendous - from hundreds of Christmas cards to free farm fresh produce to a mailbox full of anniversary and birthday cards to passed down clothing for the kids and free food... did I mention that pastor's families seem to get a lot of free food?
Have you heard the one about the congregation that paid off their pastor's student loan debt?
Have you heard the one about the congregation that bought their pastor a new car?
The blessings are so many that I have decided that next year when I am a pastor's wife, I will have to spend all of my time doing what all pastor's wives must spend their days busily doing... writing Thank You notes.
