Growing up in the house of a pastor is unfair.
Of course, there is almost always that one person that plays the stereotypical "troublemaker" card when discussing the subject matter of pastor's children. This compilation of thoughts that you will read below is not an attempt to justify anything "bad," or even "good" for that matter, that comes with the name "pastor's kid." There's more to the life of a child raised in ministry than just the stereotypes. The following words are all about being real about the matter.
You see, growing up in the house of a pastor is unfair. Do you think we asked for this when we were born? This title, this lifestyle, was something that was thrown upon us. No escape hatch and no alternate route are provided when you are handed this kind of life. It's something that you're practically stuck to live with for the rest of your time as a child. We didn't volunteer for the long nights spent at the church. We didn't volunteer to pack up our things and move them to a new location every four or five years of our lives. I can guarantee that having to walk into a new school as the "new kid" a number of times was not asked for. I don't know too many pastors' kids that raised their hands to have the life of their family out there in the open for everybody to see. This list stretches long from there. The hard thing about all this is, as somebody who is seeking to enter the field of ministry in a few years, I can't help but think my children will have to experience this same kind of life.
You see, growing up in the house of a pastor in unfair. Sure, this life is portrayed as awful and unwanted. The story doesn't end there, though. As I reflect, I'm so undeserving of the blessing it is to be the son of a pastor. Through the hardships, through the constant change, the things that happen when your family becomes a ministry are truly indescribable. Through our moves over the years, the people that we have been able to meet and been able to call friends, and in some cases family, have been a treat. It's the relationships that we've been able to create and that have stuck with us to this day that have made every bit of it worthwhile. On top of that, it's the occasional times where people approach you to tell you they are thankful for the way you as a family use your ministry that reminds you why this lifestyle is such a privilege. Above all else, what makes it truly special is getting the opportunity to sit back and watch God work. When you get to see how God uses your family and its ministry for special things, to reach special people in special ways, you push all your complaints and objections to the side. The moves, the changes, the struggles, the battles become nothing compared to the work that God does. The awesome thing about this is, I can't help but think my children will get to experience this same amazing life.
I am thankful to be raised by parents with jobs in ministry. This life is nothing compared to lives many of my peers have lived. When seeing the amazing adventure life becomes when being a pastor's kid, it really is true to say growing up in the house of a pastor is unfair.
