This is a first!

Last week while my husband was away speaking at a Youth Camp, I received a pleasant surprise. The camp staff sent me these beautiful flowers. They expressed their gratitude to me for “lending” Kempton to them for the weekend. Kempton has been a minister throughout our entire courtship and marriage. The Lord has blessed him with the gift of speaking. So, he often gets asked to speak at various events. In all our almost 10 years of marriage, no one has sent me flowers as the speaker’s wife. That was so sweet and thoughtful of them.

Pastors’ wives often have to selflessly sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom. Our husbands’ jobs technically never end. Many women have asked me if I mind it. When we were first married, I was bothered by it because I didn’t understand my role, gifts, and service to my husband and the church. Praise God I have grown since then. Now if we see an open door for ministry that we sense God wants Kempton to do, I gladly (by God’s grace) support him because I know that when he’s at home he’s ALL here. The kids & I have his undivided time & attention. So, when it’s time for him to serve the body of Christ, our family tank is full. I thank God for that. I pray that we will continue to invest in one another first which allows us to adequately serve others.

There’s a line in the movie, “Fireproof” that says, “You should never leave your partner behind.” Ministry couples really need to be reminded of this. The husband & wife should first “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10), “look to the interest of one another” (Phil 2:4), “lay down their lives for one another” (1 John 3:16). Each person should strive to give 100%, not 50/50. Then as one has to go and do their individual ministry, they are still on one accord and unified with their spouse. May Christ be your ultimate example as you selflessly and wholeheartedly serve and love your spouse.