For the past few months, I’ve known that I would be leading the congregation in communion the next time I didn’t preach on the Sunday we have it each month. But, both the hubby and I kept forgetting that I was supposed to do it. I asked to wait because I wanted to be extra prepared the first time I did it. I’ve taken communion and heard it done for years, but it’s always different when you have to do it yourself.
I think it was last night as we were falling asleep that I remember and chided him for not reminding me. Of course, it was my fault, too. This morning as we were driving to church, he asked me if I would do it. I said, “no!” I wasn’t ready. He said, “Well, I have it all ready. You could read it before service.” I just glared at him. That was all I figured I needed to say. It was pretty clearly a glare. At least I thought it was. We got to the church and the basement, where hubby does a coffee shop for school kids, was a mess from the concert on Friday night. The people in the church would have been upset if they had seen it, so I went to work. People were already upstairs when I stopped at not perfect, but good enough.
Well, service started and everything went normal until the end. When hubby asks from the pulpit, “Elaine, will you please come and do communion?” I was not happy! What could I say though? Especially in front of everybody. His excuse was my lack of response in the car. Apparently my glare was not mean enough! And he said he couldn’t read my face when he was about to ask at the end of the service. My look at that point was, “He’s gonna ask me. No, he wouldn’t dare.” Boy was I wrong!
Well, he says I did fine. I beg to differ. He did have it all typed out, but I still wasn’t mentally or spiritually prepared. I know I should be spiritually prepared for anything, anytime, but I wasn’t today. That makes me sad, really. I was so nervous and uncomfortable, I tell you! I wasn’t really dressed for it either. I would have preferred to have been wearing a dress instead of just slacks.
Picture credit: drp on Flickr
11/11/2007 at 6:45 pm Permalink
I hear you about being unprepared. reminds me of a poem by one of my favorite authors, which starts, “But I never feel prepared.” I think I’ll post it soon.
11/11/2007 at 9:09 pm Permalink
i’m kind of glad it happened for you in this way.
you’ll never feel prepared… good line, diane.
but yes, words are helpful in communicating with husbands.
12/11/2007 at 10:56 am Permalink
Your hubby showed tremendous confidence in you. Thank him for it, even though at the moment it didn’t feel too comfortable. (He helped spur a growth in you!)
(What’s that verse about having momentary afflictions and the good stuff that follows it????)
12/11/2007 at 11:08 am Permalink
You guys are the cutest couple! He is good for you!
Elaine, I am sure there will be many more “spur of the moments” in ministry. You are being stretched and that is GOOD! God will use you both more and more to bring Him sweet glory.
Always be available!
12/11/2007 at 11:10 am Permalink
Ha! I should have known you’d all side with him on this one!
12/11/2007 at 11:43 am Permalink
oh no…we really are siding with you.
Just because something may seem difficult doesn’t mean it’s not good for us. So you see, we are on your side because something just wonderful happened to you. Your feelings just haven’t caught up with the facts yet.
(((((Ilona)))))
12/11/2007 at 11:55 am Permalink
LOL…so true!