Celebrating victories as a ministry wife
Victories come in all shapes and sizes. A victory to one pastor’s or planter’s wife may be a quiet afternoon with no appointments or ball games or piano practice. Another might find a victory in a text from the lady down the street that she has been praying for and trying to build a relationship with. A different person may feel it a victory just to get out the door and have the kiddos to school on time.
“Little reminders can be the difference between persevering in the task God has given you and packing it in and leaving.”
My victories may look and feel completely different from those of the ministry wife down the street or across the state line or the country. But when we encounter victories, it is so important that we note it to ourselves and celebrate it.
One fun way to keep track of and remember victories is to write them down and keep them in a special box or jar. Some of our little pieces of paper have said things like:
Car repair way less than anticipated.
Rain held off until after our event.
Our house sold in under three days.
Georgia football is on one of the channels we get.
A phone call from some special friends to say Happy Birthday!
Mr. Joe came to church today.
Our family takes time to pray together at 9:00 pm every day. It is the last thing we do before we tuck our girls in for the night. We spend time talking about some of our favorite parts of the day (the “roses”), as well as the hardest parts (the “thorns”).
On days where we need a little pick-me-up, we open our special mason jar and pull out a few little victories that we have written down. We read and talk about some of the good things we have experienced. This is a great way to refocus and talk about how God always provides for us. This one small act can be so encouraging for the entire family.
At some point you will have days that will make you question your gifting. You will ask God why He has given you certain responsibilities when you may feel that the best you can do today is shower or make one phone call.
We all have our days when we feel discouraged, like we are not accomplishing the things we would like to do. These little reminders can be the difference between persevering in the task God has given you and packing it in and leaving.
They can also help you remember that small things can be important. Don’t just focus on the “big” things! If someone comes to your mind, it just may be a nudge from God to encourage that person in a small way through a note, call, text, cupcake or giggle. A small gesture can be a little victory for that person and for your family or ministry.
Katie Wood is a church planting pastor’s wife in Brunswick, Maine. She enjoys encouraging pastors’ and church planting pastors’ wives through her life coaching practice, 29:11.