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The Role of the Minister’s Wife

A question I encountered often in many years of ministry was, “What is the proper role of the minister’s wife?” This question might have been answered easily when everyone attended small white wood churches with the parsonage next door.

Today when ministries are widely diversified, women married to ministers fill many different roles. Various factors define those roles—a woman’s own talents and giftings, the type of ministry her husband is involved in and the demands of that ministry. One role we all can fill is that of simply being there for people.

When I traveled with my husband I described my role of simply being there as that of a maraschino cherry on a hot fudge sundae. This quote explains it:

“You know how it is. When we want to make a dish very special, we plop a bright, red cherry on top, and when we have special days, we want someone special to share it with us. As a maraschino cherry, I did not have to do anything or say anything. My purpose was just being there, giving the gift of my presence, which sometimes is the greatest gift of all.”*

Giving the gift of presence has incomparable value. We sometimes think “What can we say?” to a person who is grieving, or “What can we do for them?” At those times, saying or doing are not nearly as important as being there for our grief-stricken friends or parishioners.

Equally as important is sharing joys with people. Graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and other special events are much more special when shared with significant people in our lives. These events are “the desserts” of living for those experiencing them. The minister’s wife may be the “maraschino cherry” that makes those moments special.

Musgrove, Peggy, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry,* ACW Press, 2004, page 14.

Prayer for this week:

Lord, this week I will encounter many people who need someone to care. May my presence bring the joy of Your presence wherever I go and to whomever I meet.