A Pastor’s Kid
When I was 4 years old, my dad accepted his first pastoral call to a church in Lexington, Ohio. One of my first memories as a pastor’s kid, was a Monday morning. We were invited on Halloween night, which happened to be a Sunday, to a friend’s house after church to play UNO and a time of fellowship. It was a night full of laughter and fun.
Very early the next morning, we received a call from the family we had such fun with the night before, with news their son had just died in a car accident. Dad & mom got dressed and immediately went over to console the family who just lost their son. I went with them, as my good friend, who was only 7, had just lost her big brother. Maybe I would know what to say? Being only 5, I had no idea what to say to my good friend. It was a tragedy I will never forget.
Growing up as a pastor’s kid meant attending an abnormal number of weddings and funerals. Sometimes it even meant participating in them through singing or reading a poem or scripture. For the longest time, the smell of flowers reminded me of funerals. Being a pastor’s kid meant helping mom in junior church. It meant singing in the choir as well or singing “specials”. It meant going to church every time the doors were open. It meant helping where help was needed.
Youth camp, youth group, revivals, district assembly, and camp meeting were all part of my life as a pastor’s kid. Roller skating and ping pong were popular past times of a pastor’s kid.
Sometimes being a pastor’s kid meant hearing things I probably didn’t need to hear…. like when people were mad about any variety of things or if they said something negative about my dad or us as a family. Though I’m sure my dad didn’t need it, sometimes I felt the need to stick up for him.
Being a pastor’s kid was a privilege. I am thankful to have been put in a position to learn about God from the vantage point of being a member of the parsonage family. I’m thankful for parents who lived their lives serving God and others. They are an amazing example for which I will be forever grateful.