Gò0dNews for Couples
The Plight of the Preacher’s Wife
W
by Jimmy Bryant
ith her birthday only a short time away,
He shows it to her as they are walking out the door
the preacher considers how he can make
on the way to the church and she seems so proud, but
this day special for the one who is always
you can tell from the hurt in her eyes it was not what
there for him, no matter what. He can’t afford a gift like many wives in his congregation will receive on
she would have liked to have. You just might be the one to completely change
their birthday. However, he realizes that she doesn’t
this story. Do you have an income that would not
expect a diamond necklace or a big ring. But he is also
miss a hundred or even two? You could slip it in your
sure that it would mean more to her than any member of the church if she were so lucky as to receive some beautiful gift like many of the others will be showing off to the rest of the congregation. Her birthday is two days away, and there is no time left for him to do any real shopping. With the small amount of money left this month, it wouldn’t do any good if he did have time to shop. He couldn’t get her anything near what he would love to present her. As he drives to the hospital in a neighboring town, he sees a sign in the discount store:
pastor’s hand as he greets you on Sunday as you are
“out-of-the-box” microwave, sale price 50% below
leaving. Just a little whisper: “Buy her something nice;
retail. He hasn’t got time to stop now; his member’s
we love you both.” No one will ever know, and who
surgery is scheduled for 5 o’clock, and it is already
knows, God may have a little special gift in His basket
1:15. He will stop in and check it out on the way home.
of love, mercy, and grace He slips into your life. You
It’s 3:30 before he gets away from the hospital, and he
must remember that the preacher’s wife is the only
still has to check out that microwave.
member of the church who has no pastor.
It’s not what she deserves, and she probably will not even want it, but it’s all he can afford. Half retail, next time. He slips in and sets the microwave on the counter, hoping she will not ask about the box.
6 // August 2020
About The Author
only $39.95, it will have to do; maybe he can do more
Jimmy Bryant and his wife of almost 60 years reside in Summerville, GA. He is interim pastor at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in the Gore Community. He has authored a book, “Confessions of a Baptist Minister,” available at Amazon.com.
