The Good Life

Any of you who live in the northern half of Illinois have heard this little jingle from a popular furniture store multiple times a day. I have a habit of getting stuck on little melodies like that. In fact, right now it is playing over and over in my head.

You know, as wives of youth ministers, fellow servants in showing Christ’s love to kids of all ages, we are living a pretty “good” life. Sometimes, especially at the end of a busy summer when we are so exhausted and there is so much on the horizon, we can get bogged down by all there is to do. We can get discouraged because it seems like our husbands are “never” home and time off seems so far away.

When we get down, discouraged, and let’s face it—a little whiney—I think it is a good time to start naming the benefits of this “good life” we’ve got.

Lori and I will start off, and you all feel free to add some blessings about this life we call “the ministry to youth!”

1. We have husbands that LOVE God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength! (Many women do not have this.)
2. Our husband’s hours are long, but his schedule can be flexible to accommodate the needs of our family.
3. We get to go to Christ in Youth and other conferences where we can be challenged to grow just like the kids are! (And usually doesn’t cost us much, if at all, monetarily.)
4. We used to get Interl’inc Christian music CDs and stuff—often before others did—and we get to go to concerts and performances we otherwise wouldn’t.
5. We have been on mission trips to all kinds of interesting places and met part of God’s family—our family!—in those places.
6. We get to build relationships with some terrific volunteer sponsors and some absolutely amazing young people and to grow and mature together in the Lord.
7. We get a front seat to lots of AH-HA moments when the light bulb finally goes on in a kid’s head and he/she “gets it” for the first time! (and some adult AH-HA moments as well.)