Service is all in the name

By Robbie Colson-Ramsey, Contributing Writer

Recently Morris Brown College had its homecoming celebration, my husband and I are proud graduates of the institution, so we decided to Uber down to campus. When we jumped in the car, we heard a local funeral home commercial declaring that “their name means service.” Have you ever stopped and thought about that for a moment? Your name is your bond, and your bond is your name. As a child, our parents taught us not to bring dishonor to my family name. People often know your name before they know you as a person. Your name does mean service.

When you, as a spouse, have committed your life to a person who leads a flock, your name quickly becomes synonymous with that person’s service. A synonym is a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word. The synonym for 1st Lady/Gentleman is selfless service. When spouses become 1st Lady and 1st Gentlemen, they choose a life synonymous with service. The idea of giving to others for the rest of your marriage, sharing your family with the church, and never being able to go on a spontaneous weekend rendezvous because our spouses work every Sunday. This sharing is the ugly part of service, the stories that no one ever shares. But, I have found my strength for service by studying the Book of Luke, and I particularly meditate on Luke 10:38.

These keys have provided me with great direction. As a pastor’s spouse:

1. You must have a welcoming heart for service. When you are called to serve, you should be willing to do so without issue. Truthfully, people can feel you are unwilling to serve. Helping others creates a spirit of Thanksgiving and lets you know that you are an extension of Jesus.  When you are reluctant to serve, you are blocking your blessing.

1. You must stop hearing and start listening. I know you are asking yourself the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing happens involuntarily, while listening is something you choose to do. We must be intentional when listening to people; often, listening leads to learning. We usually do not listen to the needs of the people who have entrusted us with their spiritual needs and growth. In your daily walk with people, make listening a verb and be intentional about fully listening to people.

1. You must not be so distracted by life that you forget God is in the blessing business. You are busy, you work a full-time job, and you have to take the children to sporting events and different activities, on top of being a wife who is married to a pastor. You have every right to be and get distracted, but do not be so distracted by life that you miss your miracle.