by Linda Veath

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. ~ Titus 2:7 NIV (Photo: Storyblocks)

The sign on the door directed me to enter at the far end of the church building. As I turned to make the long walk, the door opened, and a workman invited me in. If I walked in the middle of each of the newly laid tiles, he explained, it would be okay.

I gingerly began my journey across the tiles. However, I came to a screeching halt when a woman yelled at me in a very sharp voice. What are you doing? You can’t come in that way. Thankfully the workman came to my rescue and I was allowed to continue using that entrance to the church as the woman stood by and scowled at me.

A friend of mine was the church secretary. But I had no clue where her office was. So I wandered around on my own, ignored by the scowling woman, and finally found my friend’s office. She took a short break to show me around the new church. As we stood in the beautiful new sanctuary, the woman who had yelled at me, barged in and told my friend to get back to work.

I took my leave quickly. And shook my head at what my friend whispered to me as I left. The woman who had yelled at both of us was the pastor’s wife.

This happened years ago but I still remember. Now, fast forward to this year …..

One recent morning, I left my house for a walk in the brisk, early morning air. My neighbor, the pastor of the church behind our homes, was raking pine needles from under the trees bordering the church property. His wife was doing the same thing nearer the church building. They didn’t have to do that. But they chose to help on a church work day.

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Later, when I returned from my walk, I saw them helping members of the church carry book cases and other items to the curbing as “freebies” for passersby. Quite a different scenario than the one I had witnessed years ago.

Two churches. Two pastors and their wives. I wonder …….

Which church would you want to attend?

That’s what I thought.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Let’s thank our pastors and their families for all they do to show God’s love to their flocks and the communities in which they live.