We were so close to being ready. We were minutes from having two girls dressed, teeth brushed, shoes matching and hair done when I noticed that both girls had something in their hair.
“What is this?” I asked.
“It’s toothpaste.” came the matter-0f-fact response. As my mind processed the problem, I realized there was not time to take showers, dry hair and get redressed. There was only one option.
“We’ll get it out after church. I’ll try to get as much out as I can now.”
This is the perfect example (of which there are many, most recently one of the girl’s dresses was on backwards when we arrived at church) of the balancing act that happens when you are the minister and the mom on Sunday morning. Thankfully, I have a husband who anchors us all on Sunday morning, but there are some things (like hair and outfit consultant) that our girls would just rather have my help with and I love it.
I love it because it teaches me that I can never be fully minister without being fully a participant in my family. I love it because it teaches me to let go of my desire to control things and have things look picture perfect. I love it because my congregation can laugh with me as I learn what it means to be a minister for them and a parent for our girls. And I love it because I know for so many women, the same is true on Sunday mornings.