…and a Giveaway

Welcome to #breakthrulinkup #10

Awhile back I ran a series called “5 Days of Serving Others Through the Holidays.”  Frankly, it was a response to my own desire to
  1. take some of the emphasis off the shiny-gift-syndrome which puts the emphasis on what I’ll GET for Christmas, and
  2. move it over to the sweet-offering-approach, which puts the emphasis on what I’ll GIVE for Christmas.
Now before you get all crazy on me for adding to your “to do” list and holiday-guilt, let me explain!

 

My hope is that it would become more of a lifestyle and mindset rather than a one-month-out-of-the-year thing. And the best way to encourage your kids to do this is to model it yourself. So, if you’re also feeling a little less-than-excited about the annual commercialized frenzy surrounding the Christmas season, check out that short series.

 

Helene Smith, from Maidservants of Christ, contributes to the conversation with her guest post here. She sent it on to us while this blog was till “PatAndCandy.com”, but I’m republishing it for you today to continue the giving theme…

 

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

 

Don’t forget the W2W Christmas Blessing Giveaway – have you entered yet?

I am honored to be part of this group again in 2017…and praying that this time one of YOU will win!!

Please feel free to visit one or more of the other blogs that are also participating:

Woman to Woman Ministries – Jenifer Metzger – Shari A. Miller – Elizabeth Stewart, Just Following Jesus
A Mama’s Story – Skill Trekker – Rachael Gilbert – Phyllis Sather, Write the Vision – Mama’s Coffee Shop
Learning Grace Through Motherhood – A Delightful Glow – Heather Bixler – Paradise Praises
Word Traveling, Faith-Fueled Living – Awe Filled Homemaker – Ben and Me

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Rules:
No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited by law. Open to US and Canada residents only. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest. By entering this giveaway, you agree to release Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Woman to Woman Ministries and all participating bloggers of all liability. Contest ends at 11:59 PM CST on December 11, 2017. A winner is randomly chosen by Rafflecopter and will be emailed.

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