Subscribe to the NetworkIt’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, right?
I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas right now. I absolutely love Christmas! The decorations, the lights. The fun and cute crafts my kids bring home each week from church. I love the music and the singing, I love the crisp cool air that comes with this holiday. I love being reminded each day of little 8 pound 5 ounce baby Jesus. I love how choked up I get thinking of how much a tiny baby can change things. It is a wonderous season…I love it.
It is sometimes a lonely season.These few weeks require super late nights for my husband preparing for the Christmas message. He will miss out on a lot of fun “family” traditions because of work. It makes me sad. But so worth it in the end, right? I am so proud of him. And love the work that he gets to do. He really is an amazing speaker and shares each year in the opportunity to give the Christmas message in “Big Church”. That means he sacrifices time during this special time of year with us. And I don’t get to spend the few days leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve with my husband. This year our church has 6 Christmas services. So great, right? As a pastor’s wife we sometimes have to do “traditions” different. Its hard to give up the American-Dream-Christmas.
This year MY gift to our congregation, is my husband. I’m so happy to give it….he’s quite a treasure.
Wow, Amanda, you have given me new insight to this time of year. I am so sorry that you have to give up so much of your husband at this time. I would have a hard time not being bitter about that. My husband’s schedule as a youth pastor actually completely slows down at Christmas time because all the youth programs are done now and so I’m thrilled to have him home most evenings again. But we have been a little disgruntled about the fact that he is never invited to participate in the worship services–either planning or speaking, even though every time he does get up there (the very rare occasion) everyone in our congregation begs him to speak in church more often. Anyways, I guess what I am trying to say is that instead of feeling those feelings, I should just be thankful that I get my husband’s time at Christmas. Because not all women do, and so my thoughts and prayers are with you and all other pastor’s wives who are in the same boat. Perhaps you can focus your family traditions on some non-religious holiday like Valentine’s or something!?? Just a crazy thought…
Merry Christmas!
I am on the other side of the coin, so I kind of understand what your husband is going through, and it is wonderful of you to share him.
I am a high school teacher, and our semester ended today, so this past week, I have been giving and grading finals and all the stacks of papers that have piled up. This has left very little time to get much else done. We finally got to our Christmas cards last night, and I just hope we can get them in the mail in time. There is very little I can do about this though, so my husband has just been accepting. Fortunately, I have the next 6 weeks off though, so it will be a special winter time.
The most beautiful part of my year has been that my two year old is understanding Christmas for the first time, and he is actually more excited about Jesus than Santa. He recognizes Santa, but he gets truly excited when he sees a nativity scene and yells, “Baby Deesus!”
My husband is preaching both Sunday’s over Christmas/New years, which also happens to be the exact same time we are closing escrow on our house and have to start a ton of repairs. Such a great opportunity for him but still, I was like, seriously, could the timing be any worse!?! Guess what the topic given him to preach on was though, patience, which I need right now, so in the end I feel it’s a total God thing which is the ONLY way I have peace about it.
I liked what you said about this year your gift to the congregation is your husband. great way to think of it.
Merry Christmas Amanda.
Ashley