…and a Giveaway
Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #10
- take some of the emphasis off the shiny-gift-syndrome which puts the emphasis on what I’ll GET for Christmas, and
- move it over to the sweet-offering-approach, which puts the emphasis on what I’ll GIVE for Christmas.

What does your minister’s wife want for Christmas?
A poinsettia. A gift basket with lotion and bath salts in it. A…a… are you out of ideas yet? I surveyed some minister’s wives and searched out the mystery.
What would she REALLY like you to get her for Christmas?
Your minister’s wife wants a friend.
Although church is where most of us find the people nearest and dearest to our hearts, church is where her husband works. She worries that if she makes a mistake, it will endanger his job. But she still needs every bit as much love and fellowship as you do. What can you give her? An invitation for coffee with no talk about “church.”
Your minister’s wife wants a date.
Like doctors and cops, ministers are always on call and sometimes their families suffer for it. She’d love to have his undivided attention for the evening but the cash is not always available. What can you do?
- Provide free babysitting. Don’t just tell her, “Call me, I’ll babysit one night!” Work with her to actually schedule and let her choose where you keep the kids.
- Or give her money for a date. Ideas include gift cards to a local restaurant or movie theater, tickets to a concert, or money in an envelope with a note explaining where the cash should go.
Your minister’s wife wants family.
The holidays are family time and there is a good chance they are very far from the people they love. Consider including them in a holiday tradition with your family. This can be as simple as inviting them to join you for popcorn and Charlie Brown’s Christmas, or as personal as sharing family dinner with them Christmas afternoon. Whatever you decide, leave her a polite way to decline. Your goal is to make her feel included not obliged.
She wants to feel your love.
There are so many ways to show that you grateful for her and her family and care about them, not just the work they do:
- Send her a card – not an ordinary Christmas card but a note that mentions specifically what you appreciate about her and her husband.
- Get each lady in the congregation to write her a short note and put them together in a decorative jar.
- Sit with her at church.
- Give her a hug.
- If you know her well enough to KNOW what she loves and would appreciate, give her a small gift.
Although there were more suggestions in the informal survey of minister’s wives I knew, (including two families that desperately need some updates to the parsonage) these four things came up again and again. Your minister’s wife wants to be loved and included just like every other sister in your church.
It takes very little money to make her Christmas amazing!
It’s a true calling to be the wife of a pastor or minister. I hope you’ll consider reaching out to someone you know who will appreciate your love and support!
This post was proofread by Grammarly
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First one here! Thanks for hosting.
And thanks for your post, Helene! An important reminder this time of year…
Such wonderful and thoughtful ideas; that really would work for just about any wife and mother on your list!
These gifts really are suitable for any wife and mom which reminds us that these special ladies are really just like the rest of us! I hope you are blessed in this holiday season!
Love that idea! Thanks for hosting!
thanks for sharing another wonderful link up! wishing you a beautiful holiday season!
stop by and chat with me 🙂
And thanks, as always, for stopping by, Tianna! Have an awesome week 🙂
super post and a great reminder – it can be a lonely job. blessings on you in Wyoming! My dad grew up on a homestead there and attended Univ. of W. many moons ago!
Thanks Sue! I am blessed to be part of a great congregation that has just enfolded me and loved us as people not as employees. But I hope that these gentle reminders in a season of gifts will help others feel as loved!
Thank you for hosting!
We have recently welcomed a new pastor’s wife. This list will be most helpful!
MIchelle thanks for thinking of her and looking to make her welcome!
I absolutely love these ideas, and they so get to the heart of what a minister’s wife often needs. As the daughter-in-law of a pastor’s wife, I have seen times where these were or could have been the perfect gift. Thanks for your thoughts : )
Meredith, I am so glad that the suggestions line up with what you see in your Mother-in-law. I hope that she is blessed by her church this holiday season!
Wow, what a great focus on pastors’ wives! Fantastic!
Thanks, Bonnie Lyn – please pass it on to anyone who could use it…
(Also, of course, the Giveaway entry wouldn’t hurt…lol)
Merry Christmas to you and yours <3
WHAT A THOUGHTFUL POST – OPPS – FORGOT I WAS ON CAPS – OH, WELL – YOU DESERVE CAPS! LOVE, SUE
Love you, too, Sue!!!
Merry Christmas, sweet friend… <3
Great post in support of the wife! Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for hosting this opportunity to bring bloggers together and share their posts. I look forward to your party each week. #OverTheMoon #WWBlogHop #ThursdayFavoriteThings
So happy to have you here each week, Marilyn! <3
What a great post about “ministers’ wives.” It’s not always an easy calling and I’m so glad you thought to share this.