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For a few weeks now, I've been mulling over how I'm doing as a servant.

I'm not doing a very good job.

Can I get you a glass of water?
The role of women in the church is a much debated and flammable topic. Why is a woman so threatened by male leadership?

Personally, I find that the majority of women I know in leadership capacities are humble women, and would truthfully rather be cleaning the commodes and serving tables than being the conference speaker.

Some people feel that the only way they can be used is to push their way to the top. But God's way is to start at the bottom. He will promote if one is faithful to the small things, regardless of gender.

I recall a moment shared with the Pastor's wife and Assistant Pastor's wife that I grew up with. I was oh, probably around 14. Our district campground had just built a new paved and roofed pavillion to replace the wooden picnic tables and yellow striped tent that had been the social hub of the campground for years. Family camp was going to start the next week, and my church was very involved in the caretaking and cleaning of the campground. I was helping them sweep the dirt off of the pavillion floor from where it had been flooded with rain/mud and had dried.

It was W.O.R.K.

I thought I was being funny, and I stopped and said "Whew!! Is this what you do when you sign up to be a preacher's wife?"

Sis. Assistant Pastor's wife laughed a little, but looked me straight in the eye and said, "You don't sign up to be a preacher's wife, honey. You are called." And went on about her sweeping.

I cannot think about the servant role of a minister and minister's wife without remembering that time. I can't remember any other time that these women of faith got up and taught a lesson either to women or to the church as a whole, but that moment impacted my life forever.

Instead of arguing in the comments about what role a 21st century woman should have in her church, I'd like to open it up to thoughts that you have of a woman exemplifying, nay, defining servanthood.

And after you are done, please send a thank you card to your Pastor's wife and the other women on staff at your church.

Don't forget the cleaning lady. She picks up your children's snotty tissues.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!