Writen By: Vickie Munton
The days are long past, but the emotion still creeps in…
Self-pity
We have raised four PK’s (Pastor’s kids), and just thinking about those days of trying to get all of us out the door on time for church can still get my blood pressure rising.
“It’s totally not fair,” I thought, “he can get a long hot shower, put on a nice suit, and
JUST.WALK.OUT.THE.DOOR. “
And the chaos ensues.
“Tell her to get out of the bathroom!”
“I don’t have any clean socks!”
“Where, oh where is my hairbrush?!” (not the Veggie Tale version!)
And, of course, “I can’t find my Bible!”
YEP. Flat out pity-party. It was not pretty, and I’m not proud of it. My sweet husband was often oblivious, and I kept it that way. The guilt I was feeling for thinking this way would only be increased if I burdened my pastor with the ho-hum hullaballoo adventures of his not-so-perfect family.
And so it was. A party we celebrated almost every Sunday—and it.was.not.fun. And of course, no one seemed to understand why I was late and frazzled and not good at putting on a fake smile. But I did anyway.
Until I saw her.
The woman with the newly-acquired title of WIDOW.
And my heart started beating out of my chest.
I knew this was no coincidence.
I went to church to completely out of obedience, and though my spirit wasn’t prepared for it,
I met Jesus.
He was there, in the widow’s eyes.
And I knew. I knew that I could never look at my situation the same again. He taught me a valuable lesson and He didn’t have to say a word. He was just there. And the gentleness with which He spoke, spoke volumes.
Perspective. Keeping my eyes on Him was the only way to see with clarity.
So I am grateful. Truly grateful that He loves me anyway. That He showed me how very much I have to be thankful for, and that even when I’m alone—really alone like this sweet widow—He will still be there. He will speak to my heart and give me courage and hope and promise. He will renew my spirit and fill me with His.
This girl doesn’t want to make this mistake again, so I do absolutely everything I can to physically and spiritually prepare for Sundays—and it starts long before the clock strikes midnight. I started calling Saturdays my “pre-Sunday” day. The day to plan and prepare for Sundays. Before going to bed, we have decided what breakfast will be and decide what we will wear—and prayers for the coming day prepare our hearts.
This preparation—this planning—getting ready to be with Jesus is something that should be on our calendar every day.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
~Vickie Munton
About Vickie:
Vickie Munton has served beside her husband in ministry for more than 30 years and has four adult children. The joy of her life is her seven beautiful grandbabies.
Her heart’s desire is to share her faith in the Lord Jesus and life experiences in a way that help to build up and encourage others:
“I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding, and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.”
Ephesians 2:2
Uniquely Yours Ministries 