Pastor, I appreciate you!!!

Dear Pastors, you know what this month is, although only about one out of 50 of your people do. That little old gal in your church that listens to Christian radio and is alert to the need to get you a card recognizing you for what you are to her and the church.

I just want to say that, although there are those crazy birds out there that give the ministry a bad taste in the mouths of people, I want to recognize you for the loyal, sacrificing, hurting, rejoicing, preaching, teaching, encouraging, over-worked, under-paid, under-appreciated servant of the Lord and His people that you are.

I know that, after all of these years of service, you have to wonder if any lives have really been changed, if anybody has benefited from the thousands of hours you have invested in study, counsel and delivering your soul  four or five times a week. Sometimes you wonder if they internalized one thing you have ever taught.

You, my friend, jiggle the toilet handles after everyone has left. You check the doors, the lights, say a prayer and finally go home to the family. Know that your record is on high AND now, it is on Face Book and a blog. Consider this my deepest, heartfelt pastor appreciation notice for you.

Let me lay the ground work for my note to you today. (Pun intended)

So, I put up a new sign for the church last week. I submitted the plans to building and safety, got the footers okayed, mixed up 7 bags of concrete by hand, set the posts, bolted the sign on the posts, dug a 33' trench a foot deep by hand, etc., etc. Sunday morning rolls around and guess how many comments were made on the brand new church sign? You got it, not one! Gotta love ‘em!

It is like peeing your pants in a dark suit, you get a warm feeling all over, but nobody notices.

I know how it is for you guys when you study yourself weary and then pour your heart out and not one mention is made concerning your “masterpiece.”

But you continue to do it. You take the phone calls asking for money, you neglect your family to help people who will one day unceremoniously leave you. It is your calling. God honors your faithfulness with His stamp of approval. Hey, you have preached it yourself, if only one soul gets saved, it will eternally be worth it all.

So, God bless you, man of God. I salute you. And if you have church folk who fail to communicate a word of appreciation...forgive them for they know not what they DON'T do.