Family First

So, I was watching Everybody Loves Raymond last night for a few minutes, partly because nothing else was on. The episode where Deborah runs for school governance board President was playing, and Ray wasn't happy about such a prospect because it meant he would be home at night with the kids, more often than not. And that scared the crap out of him.

For friends that know me in real life, let's just say I understand his dilemma. Being at home nights with my kids doesn't scare me, but as Dads, it gets pretty frustrating at times when they want nothing but Mommy and she isn't home or won't be for a while.

Poor Ray, actually goes as far as to vote against her, to make sure she doesn't win the school board election. She loses... by a whopping 6 votes.

And it brings me back to what I've always wondered about pastors. How they juggle ministry and family. Even for youth pastors. They often have kids of their own (and for this reason, it might also explain why youth pastors are so often young couples without kids). How easy it must it be, to have a struggle that exists, with the argument being made that someone spends more time investing in other people's kids than their own?

Probably, a little too much, if we were honest.

So, let's pray this #youthPastorWednesday. Pray for pastors, but in youth and children's ministry, but others; whose homes and marriages are struggling or even in trouble, because of the demands that take them away from personal family time. May their be a covering a grace and understanding. May God grant wisdom and direction, if indeed changes need to be made, to establish boundaries and recreate time-frames that restore this necessary balance to life. Pray for healing in marriages, where this has been a problem that has perhaps brought them to the brink of burnout and the suffering of severe consequences. May God help them, even this day and hour.

That the ministry of the church
Would not overtake or dominate
The responsibilities of leading the home
In the things of God.
For His glory.

- PNC