Something I have decided to do is to take time off after camp. Camp is 120 hours away from my family. In the past I have taken a day or two off as comp time to get some rest thanks to a church who genuinely cares for her staff. Now that my family has expanded and I know the work involved in taking care of a 5 year old and twin 6 month old babies I know that my wife needs me home to help her get some rest as well. So I'll be vacationing on the OBX with my family and friends this week.
As I sat at camp last week thinking about the stress my family went through with one child with pink eye, one twin taken to the ER in an ambulance and then her twin brother ending up sick as well I was reminded of something very important:
What good are you if you minister to other parents children but neglect to minister to your own family?
My family should be my first ministry. Growing up as a pastor's kid I got to rub elbows with a lot of other children who had parents in full time ministry. I have seen many go off the edge and often it was due to an absentee father, the pastor. Shame on pastors who do this!
The church belongs to God, He can take care of her just fine without you. If I'm in ministry and I'm going to neglect my family it would be healthier for the church if I quit and found some other line of work. Why? We, as pastors, should be setting the example.
So this will be my last blog post for the week. I won't twitter or Facebook except for fun. Now off to take care of my family!
Are you neglecting your family?
3 comments:
I hope you aren't saying that by being at camp while your family was having some stress (that was totally unforeseen) that you were somehow neglecting your family.
One thing that your absence allowed while things at home were chaotic was for the body of Christ to come to your family's aid.
Ministry was happening both at camp by you and at home by your church helping your family.
I'm not saying I was neglecting my family while at camp. I'm saying many in full time ministry don't make time for their families and often put ministering to others above ministering to those under their own roof.
I'm thankful that our church stepped in and ministered to our family. It was nice to be on the receiving end especially since I couldn't be here to take care of things.
We have some most excellent folks at NHC
Andy, take the time off, you deserve it. your Church family will fill in, because they have a good leader(s).
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