R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
(R-E-S-P-E-C-T sung by Aretha Franklin)
Why in the world am I thinking about this song? Because, I was thinking about the word r-e-s-p-e-c-t. As Minister's wives, we often lament at the lack of respect congregation members or staff give our husbands. Reasons for lack of respect range from rebellion to ignorance in almost any congregation. What is really damaging is that it is most often a learned response, so once it is present in a body, it spreads, mostly because it appeals to the fleshly nature that we all battle. Disrespect can come from anywhere-the Worship Leader, an Associate Pastor, the deacon board, a lay minister, congregation members and yes, ladies, even from the Pastor's wife! Perhaps, at times, we are the most disrespectful of all.
Through the last 28 years of ministry, I've observed a lot of behaviors in Pastor's wives and sadly, in myself, that did not honor my husband in his position as Pastor and certainly not as my husband either. We can probably all say that we've had at least one apple out of that bag. If I had been willing to admit my disrespect, I would have qualified it by saying that I wasn't trying to be purposely disrespectful, but mostly I just refused to admit that I had been. I mean, when you're right, you're right...Right?
In my next couple of blogs, I am going to reveal ways in which I and other Minister's wives have been guilty of disrespect. Truly, if we expect others to respect and appreciate our husbands, then we must do the same. I hope you are wearing steel-toed boots because I am most assuredly going to step on some toes! Better yet, let your dogs breathe because we need to feel every stomp!
Find out what it means to me
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
(R-E-S-P-E-C-T sung by Aretha Franklin)
Why in the world am I thinking about this song? Because, I was thinking about the word r-e-s-p-e-c-t. As Minister's wives, we often lament at the lack of respect congregation members or staff give our husbands. Reasons for lack of respect range from rebellion to ignorance in almost any congregation. What is really damaging is that it is most often a learned response, so once it is present in a body, it spreads, mostly because it appeals to the fleshly nature that we all battle. Disrespect can come from anywhere-the Worship Leader, an Associate Pastor, the deacon board, a lay minister, congregation members and yes, ladies, even from the Pastor's wife! Perhaps, at times, we are the most disrespectful of all.
Through the last 28 years of ministry, I've observed a lot of behaviors in Pastor's wives and sadly, in myself, that did not honor my husband in his position as Pastor and certainly not as my husband either. We can probably all say that we've had at least one apple out of that bag. If I had been willing to admit my disrespect, I would have qualified it by saying that I wasn't trying to be purposely disrespectful, but mostly I just refused to admit that I had been. I mean, when you're right, you're right...Right?
In my next couple of blogs, I am going to reveal ways in which I and other Minister's wives have been guilty of disrespect. Truly, if we expect others to respect and appreciate our husbands, then we must do the same. I hope you are wearing steel-toed boots because I am most assuredly going to step on some toes! Better yet, let your dogs breathe because we need to feel every stomp!
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