What are your thoughts when you think of an ideal pastor’s wife?  Here are some of my ideas:

She seeks to take care of herself spiritually, so that she can take care of others.

She recognizes that taking care of her husband takes priority over taking care of others in the church.

She values her quiet time with a cup of tea, an unhurried morning, her Bible and her journal.

She tries to keep boundaries in her life, but many times her schedule gets crowded because her spiritual gifts are service, compassion and giving.

She believes in Titus 2:3-5.

She hears about a friend’s sister who is hurting.  Love compels her to make homemade bread, soup and cookies and delivers the care package with the purest of motives.

She offers to do laundry for someone who is physically laid up and a single mom.

She listens for a couple hours to a friend who is struggling and offers wise advice, encouragement and prayer.  She finally gets to bed at midnight.

She believes that the most effective way to lead someone to Christ is to have a relationship with that person first.  Then perform acts of kindness in Jesus’ name, and God will open the door to use words if necessary.

She accompanies her husband on visitations and offers a gentle touch, a warm smile, and a kiss on the forehead to someone in a nursing home.

She serves in areas that are not necessarily her gifted areas because there is a need and a lack of workers.

She is right at home serving in the kitchen, not needing to be “on stage” for fulfillment in service.

She endures the occasional heartaches of ministry life with grace.

She offers wise advice to her husband.  (If he’s wise, he’ll take it.)

She prays for her husband more than he will ever know — and is patient with him.

She is a beautiful person inside and out.