Balancing Home and Ministry

Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the LORD, and do good;…”

This verse jumped out at me this morning. This is my life, in a nutshell. This is every Christian woman’s life in a nutshell. This is how we are to balance our homes and ministries.

When asked to write an article on this topic, I had to chuckle. Seriously. Of all the years of my life, this one has been the busiest and most intense year of them all. Pregnancy was the introduction to it. Then came a low-weight, otherwise adorable, healthy baby boy… in mid-August. Mid-August is the start of our school year. We home school. I am the teacher. Yes. It’s been busy. Aside from my infant, I am the Mommy of a healthy 4-year-old, 7-year-old, and 9-year-old and wife to an amazing, wonderful, (Busy!) pastor. You could say it has been a “growing” year for all of us!

I wish I could say that balancing home and ministry is something in which I have become proficient. But if I am to be completely honest, I’m still learning. There are days that I feel I did it! And there are (many) other days that I feel I could have done much better. Epic fail, you could say. I can also honestly, with-all-my-heart, say that there is NO other profession I’d rather have than that of a ministry wife and mother. God blessed me in preparing me for this chapter of my life by giving me parents who were in the full-time ministry as an assistant pastor, wife, and teacher(s). They made a wonderful home in the midst of a very busy church/school schedule and made the ministry so appealing that I had very little problem submitting to God’s call to be in the ministry full-time as well. I believe that no matter what chapter of life you’re in, a certain set of priorities will help you sort through your responsibilities. The following list of priorities is what I have gleaned from my parents and from my pastor’s wife of 8 years, Mrs. Joyce Anglea.

1. God – MAKE time for Him. This means Bible-reading and prayer. Have Plan A, B, and C – morning, noon (kids’ quiet time), and night. When Plan A falls through, go to Plan B, etc. We must seek Him if we are to do His will.

1. Husband – Having a husband in the ministry means doing a LOT of sharing! That’s just the way it is. Focus on the positive. Make his time home as nice as possible. Communicate with him. Be available for him. (My mom made a point to do this.) In my opinion, you can make a lot of church people happy, but if your husband isn’t happy and his needs aren’t met, then it really doesn’t matter that much. Other things and people can wait when he needs you. Also, he’s the one I ask when I’m not sure whether or not to add or delete something to/from my schedule.

1. Children – The Proverbs 31 woman “…looketh well to the ways of her household.” (verse 27) As best I can, I try to keep an eye on my children’s ways and strive to keep their hearts. Some days I fail. But I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told to “cherish these growing-up years.” These children are in MY care. If I take up another responsibility, even for a short time, my kids need to be deliberately put into someone else’s care. Proverbs 29:15 “…a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”

1. Home management – Whether employed or not, the home management of my house is my responsibility. My home is the place my husband comes for rest, recuperation, and enjoyment. This is the place in which my children are growing up, going to school, and making lasting memories. How do I want them to remember it? “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (I Cor.14:40) As best we can, my family work as a team to keep the place decent and in order. A routine and a chore chart system have greatly aided us in this endeavor. Order in the home will greatly aid you in your ministry.

1. Ministry – Areas of ministry differ for each of us. Involve the kids when you can. Do what you can from home: write notes of encouragement, make meals, etc. When you’re there (whether at church or in some capacity of the ministry), be ALL there.

1. Yourself – Somewhere toward the top is where this one SHOULD be. In order to properly care for your family and even your ministry, you need to take care of yourself spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This one definitely hasn’t been easy for me this year! But sometimes, just having a few minutes of solitude and rest can help to refresh the spirit. Don’t be trapped in the mindset that thinks spending time for yourself is a bad thing. When your motives for doing so are for the sake of those you love, it is a great thing!

“Trust in the LORD and do good.” When faced with two or more options of “doing good,” I try to remember this order of priorities and choose to do the “better good.” In other words, when I can serve without sacrificing my family’s needs, then I go for it. God bless each of you as you endeavor to “balance your home and ministry.”

#balance #home #ministry #family