I feel like this is something that I need to write. I don't know how to write it without offending someone or how to really get across the importance of what I'm trying to say, but I'm going to try. I also must say that God did a good thing by having me wait to write this out until this morning. If I would have wrote last night, it would have been filled with anger and today, it is filled with hurt. This post is mostly for me, for a type of therapy, but I feel like I need to post it for the few who might read it and need to understand.
I'm a preacher's daughter. I think most of you knew that. But I don't think a lot of you know what kind of life comes with that. Did you know that people will insult you, not like you, talk about you and HURT you just because of who your father is? (Earthly and heavenly for that matter) Did you know that you will hear people spread lies about your family? Did you know that people will do silly things like defriend you on Facebook because they don't like what your dad said in a sermon? I've grown up with the two most amazing parents you could ever meet. They loved me, they taught me, they were ALWAYS (and still are) my parents FIRST. They showed me time and time again what true love is. They showed me that people matter and that you should care about them. They showed me the love of Jesus. Most importantly, for this very moment, they taught me how to turn the other cheek. Do you know how many evenings have been sacrificed to council a couple, or a family, or to visit someone in the hospital? I don't think people quite understand how many directions one man can be pulled to.
Can you imagine what the man himself feels like? The preacher that is pulled away from his family whenever someone needs him. The preacher who tries to be transparent and preach the truth of God and people get their feelings hurt and decide to talk about how much of a bully he is. God never said that this life would be easy and actually, He said that we would be persecuted because of Him. Boy, I sure haven't felt it more than now. But unfortunately for many preachers, they feel it every day. They are asked for advice time and time again. When it is given, people will turn away and completely ignore it. They are called to make home visits and hospital visits and they go and the go. Then one time they may not be able to, they may not know that someone is sick, and someone gets mad at them for that. They put themselves out there and make themselves vulnerable.
Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad. When someone comes to Christ, when you know that you have actually helped someone, it is a good feeling. There really are people who love you. The church that we attend is an amazing support system and they have proved that over and over again. But just remember, the next time you want to offer advice, "Your sermons are too long", "You need to not yell as much", "You need to talk about this or that", "You need to go to the hospital more and visit" that you don't know just how many people before you have said that very same thing.
I'm proud of my father and his job. I know his heart for the people of his congregation. And I know that quite often it hurts for the very people who have spit in his face. I know that one day, he will stand before God and he will be held accountable for the people that he taught. I wouldn't change this life that I have for anything. I know that my parents are good people and that they love God with all of their hearts. But I do ask of you one thing, before you start to talk about your preacher in circles, in restaurants, at work, remember he is someone's father, husband, son. You aren't just hurting him, you are hurting his family and most importantly you are hurting God.
