"Middle Girl"

Just the other day Claire decided that she wants to build a treehouse. (now understand, we do not have a single tree in our entire yard) And this treehouse is to be very special because it is just for "middle girls." She, of course, is my unique middle girl. The good thing is that she finds joy in being in the middle. She often says that, "Emma is big, Olivia is little and I am medium." And it is always followed by a big smile from ear to ear.

I hope and pray that she will always feel unique and special in the "birth order" that God has placed her. At times I feel such pain as she struggles to find her own special friends on the playground or at church. Emma often (unintentionally) takes them away as most kids are drawn to the older child. But of all my girls I see such a huge, loving heart in Claire. She loves easily and she gets hurt easily.

Lord, I need you to help me to know how to guide her and encourage her and give her opportunities that are just her own as life happens. Claire is the one I worry about the most and yet the one that I see God's heart reflected in the most.

There is a great chance that she will never truly get to build her treehouse for middle girls. But I pray that she will always find her place. Lord, please fill her with confidence and always keep her heart as soft as it is today at 4 years old.

Write a Book? You've Got to Be Crazy!

Do you know that if you were to patron any Christian bookstore today you would be hard pressed to find ANYTHING that speaks to the heart of a church planter's WIFE? There are book upon book written to the guy who plans to start a church in today's society - how to's, leadership, the postmodern church, the emerging church. But what about us wives? We tend to just get thrown into the ballgame without ever having attended even one practice session. What's up with that? I'm so curious to know why this issue has been overlooked.

I have a great friend who lives in Texas. For quite a few years now she has been organizing and providing a conference for CP wives in various parts of the nation. I have attended quite a few of them and even assisted her in providing one for my state. It has been an incredible ministry. And the thing that amazes me the most every time that I attend is the longing in the hearts of each woman there to connect with other women who are living the same unique life.

There is no other pastor's wife life in the world that compares to that of a church planter wife. The struggles, the hours, the commitment, the faith. . . . And the sad thing is that as church planting efforts continue to grow, daily there are more women whom are being added to the ranks that have no other woman to share that life with. Many can not attend a conference unless it happens to be located at their back door. Many don't even know the name of someone to call when times get tough. Many have such little preparation that they might even tend to think that they are the only ones experiencing the ups and downs that they have daily.

SO. . . what does this mean to me? What is God telling me? Why does this bother me so much all of a sudden? Kevin always talks about this "holy discontent" that happens in the life of a believer when God is prompting them to do something. I'm almost scared that this is mine - scared, but excited. God, do I have it in me to write a book? Is there any real value in that? Are my experiences worthy of writing about - much less being read by someone else? All I know is that something needs to be done to help these ladies. A book is cheaper and more accessible than a conference. And, if I could help one wife and family to finish well then it might just be worthwhile. Hmmmm. . .We'll see.