Moving on up!....or not

This morning my four little girls were outside riding their bikes. I felt this was the perfect time for me to get some laundry/housework done, without too many interruptions. Every few minutes I would glance out the window just to make sure all was well . At one point, I looked outside and saw a woman talking to my 2 oldest daughters. I quickly put the laundry aside and went outside to join my children.

It was then that I met one of our new neighbors. She and I talked a while, asking the typical questions that new neighbors do. "Where are you from?" "What brought you to Oregon?" Things like that. She had already met my husband a week before and already knew what line of "work" we were in. I was telling her what a big move it was for us, packing everything up and hauling our entire lives all the way from Ohio to Oregon. To that she said sometimes that's what you have to do to work your way up in a profession.

My husband's profession is a youth pastor. Although we don't really look at it as a "profession," but as a ministry. After she talked about "moving our way up the career ladder" (becoming a senior pastor or executive pastor) I found myself wanting to explain that "moving up" is not what's important to us. If my husband is a youth pastor still when he is 50, I am confident that the Lord will still be using him to draw students to Himself. (If God ever does call my husband to be a senior pastor, my hope is that we would joyfully follow His leading.) God is not interested in my husband's title, rank, income, or what "rung of the ladder" he's on. God is only concerned that my husband (and I) are seeking Him constantly and sharing His love with others through how we live our lives. God wants our lives, every aspect of them, to glorify Him. Whoa, there's some heavy thinking :) I find it a great honor to say that I'm the wife of a youth pastor, because I know how the Lord has used my husband to change lives and hearts of countless students over the years. My husband's obedience to God's calling has eternal results. Not too many "professions" can say that! I don't mean to sound like my husband is "above" others just because he's a pastor. That's not what I'm saying at all. But I am proud to boast of the God that chooses to use us for His glory.

So, moving on up? Nah, I don't think so, and that's okay with me! My prayer is that God will continue to give us the wonderful privilege of ministering to students....and neighbors.