tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post74836310462777869..comments2024-03-28T22:35:31.438-04:00Comments on Closed Doors, Open Windows: The Waiting Is Finally Over -Random Journal DayPamela M. Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-64575731614324952762014-08-05T06:48:08.388-04:002014-08-05T06:48:08.388-04:00Thank you Cecilia. I had so much to learn as a new...Thank you Cecilia. I had so much to learn as a new pastor's wife at that time...and I found out that the expectations were different every new place we went. But God gave me the strength to be what HE needed me to be...and helped others to learn to accept me "Just as I am" without one plea! It was a learning process for all of us. Thank you for your kind thoughts today.Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-3566699665093231762014-08-04T22:33:57.126-04:002014-08-04T22:33:57.126-04:00Pam:
I enjoyed reading this post. We of the l...Pam:<br /> I enjoyed reading this post. We of the laity don't always realize how harsh and unyielding we can be. Please forgive us for seeming insensitive. There is no mould for the clergy family. Ithas taken me a long time to learn this. quietspirithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086016141181470311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-32061010819884614312014-08-02T14:38:35.787-04:002014-08-02T14:38:35.787-04:00Thank you Dawn...yes, very "vintage" pic...Thank you Dawn...yes, very "vintage" pictures. 37 years ago exactly! Wow! Where did the time fly? I had so much to learn about being "mom"...even to my own 3 kids, let alone to a church full of people much more mature than I! I'd say they were the pillars of grace...but then again, you are right, I did learn to exercise grace back then and had to keep re-learning as we moved on from there. Each new place was a new lesson for me. Trust me. There were many challenges to my "grace". LOLPamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-36704681960752706382014-08-02T12:47:17.490-04:002014-08-02T12:47:17.490-04:00Oh, Pam! What a great journal share! ANd those &qu...Oh, Pam! What a great journal share! ANd those "vintage" lol pictures! They were lucky to have you as mom, I bet you blessed as you continue to even now. You are a pillar of grace. So I guess you revolutionized the role of the Pastor's Wives going forward! Thanks for sharing these past glimpses in your life. enthusiastically, dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13491170202082863992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-27150969658244654682014-08-01T22:37:39.066-04:002014-08-01T22:37:39.066-04:00Yes, I've laughed over that so many times thro...Yes, I've laughed over that so many times throughout the years, especially when anyone else asks me if I play the piano...most everyone I know has had to hear this story. And yes, I'm still playing the part of "mother" to my two adult sons who still live at home (back and forth many times) and to all the "younger" staff members at the church where I currently work as the Business Administrator. Even the youth pastor, assoc. pastor, etc., kind of look to me for "motherly" wisdom from an "old pastor's wife". LOL "And the beat goes on..."Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-38667785240415043442014-08-01T22:31:57.610-04:002014-08-01T22:31:57.610-04:00Oh sweet "jeskmom", I am so happy to hea...Oh sweet "jeskmom", I am so happy to hear from you...and glad to know you are having a good, even if busy, summer. Thank you for your thoughts...yes, I could tell you so many stories as we didn't stop at just one church, but went on to many many more...each with their own new expectations for us to attempt to meet. Didn't always work, because I just gotta be me! LOL! Praise God for people with more patience and love than unrealistic expectations! <br />Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-39347428305300317832014-08-01T22:22:57.820-04:002014-08-01T22:22:57.820-04:00Oh Pam, sooo many expectation of Pastors' wive...Oh Pam, sooo many expectation of Pastors' wives. I've heard these stories over and over. It's funny how we think we 'own' our pastors and their families as we own no one else in the body. I know your kindness and faithfulness won the day with many who had those expectations. God knows we all need each other. Imagine if there really was only ONE kind of pastor and pastor's wife. You might as well just have mannequins. That makes me laugh. God knew who they needed. And who YOU needed. Right?<br />I've been reading your posts on my iPad on my travels but haven't been able to comment. Glad you're posting. I continue to pray for you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03468122155512428886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-74224830101901212962014-08-01T22:19:49.013-04:002014-08-01T22:19:49.013-04:00Pamela- I really enjoyed this...I laughed out loud...Pamela- I really enjoyed this...I laughed out loud at the piano question and your thoughts...I also was encouraged that I can be a "mom" to others even if my babies are growing up (26 and 24 years old this year)...I can still be a mother no matter what season I'm in...thanks for sharing your story and I love your humor!Kel Rohlfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103229343668393867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-13364777801130541492014-08-01T21:45:35.696-04:002014-08-01T21:45:35.696-04:00Yes, I totally agree. The woman doing all the ques...Yes, I totally agree. The woman doing all the questioning became a kind of nemesis to me in my early days as a Pastor's Wife at that church, but when I wanted to start a neighborhood Bible study with the unchurched women of our community, she volunteered to babysit the children, and became one of my staunchest allies! I learned a lot from her in the process. God has ways of working things out if we just take the time to listen and learn. Thank you for your thoughts today.<br />Pamela M. Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04060656432106792419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2756675007223295900.post-84659445733562584032014-08-01T20:49:53.521-04:002014-08-01T20:49:53.521-04:00What a great story! I'm not a pastor's wi...What a great story! I'm not a pastor's wife or a pastor, but I have served in quite a few ministry positions along the way and oh, those dear elders who love to tell us how "it's always been done." I imagine I reacted with a good bit of frustration when I was younger, but the Lord opened my eyes by showing me how some other women my age appeared when they got angry with the older ladies. I learned quickly that a lot of respect and a little bit of deferring to their years of experience went a long way. While they looked to me for leadership, I looked to them for support, encouragement...and maybe a grandmotherly hug or two.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06316595488903619354noreply@blogger.com