Island Living

It was the summer of my Freshman year of High School.  My sister was going to be a Senior and after years of a rough co-existence, we were finally best friends.  She thought I was cool enough to hang out with her friends, she was fiercely protective, (still is) and it was quite literally the best summer of my High School life.

            One summer day we were planning on going out on one of our friend’s boats.  We were staying in the Indian River, which is actually a lagoon filled with Manatees.  We were all taking turns knee-boarding when I began to feel seasick.  Not everyone is blessed with motion sickness but I got a double dose.  It’s so bad that I have even gotten sick when hubby pulled into a parking spot too quickly. 

            There was a small uninhabited island in the lagoon and I requested that we take a break and get some sun.  Operation “Don’t Puke on the Boat” was going brilliantly.  We hung out on the beach, ate a little and rested.  Those of you that are in the wonderful motion sickness club with me know that one of the easiest ways to get better is to close your eyes.  I did just that and woke up some time later all alone.  No sign of the boat, my sister or her friends.  I was completely alone.  This was long before cell phones were to be invented so there I was, stranded.

            This is sometimes the feeling you may have as a Preacher’s Wife.  It’s hard to have close relationships because everything you say and do is looked at a little too closely.  There is a congregation of people watching you for an example of how to live and the reality is that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).  How do we navigate the island life of a Preacher’s wife?

1. Put your trust in God and not man.  Man will always let us down but God never will.  Psalm 118:8

2. Seek councel from people who are spiritually stronger than you are. Proverbs 19:20-21

3. Love people.  Even if they don’t love you back.  John 15:12-13

4. Pray often and specifically.  1 Thessalonians 5:17

5. Surround yourself with good.  Good music, good books, good people. Philippians 4:8

6. Be Grateful.  You can not be grateful and anxious at the same time.  Philippians 4:6-7

Eventually, the boat came back for me and all was well.  While I did not necessarily enjoy my island time, I did learn some lessons. That’s the thing about hard times, you will always come out of them stronger, wiser and having learned some amazing things.

Know you are loved!

JJ Davenport, Florence, AL