Was it Eddie Arnold who first sang, “Have I told you lately that I love
you…”? If it was not, it should have been. Eddie could sing that kind
of song like no one before him or after. (My apologies to those readers who
are too young to know about the velvet voiced Purina farm boy who sang to us
every Saturday from our Philco.)
Was it Eddie Arnold who first sang, “Have I told you lately that I love
you…”? If it was not, it should have been. Eddie could sing that kind
of song like no one before him or after. (My apologies to those readers who
are too young to know about the velvet voiced Purina farm boy who sang to us
every Saturday from our Philco.)
That song probably got more husbands to say to their wives, “Have I told
you lately that I love you?” than all the articles in Readers Digest
and sermons from Baptist pulpits aimed at that purpose put together.
Interesting, is it not, that we almost never have to be reminded to say what
we want, but often have to be reminded to say “thank you” when we
receive it?
Maybe that is the reason the Southern Baptist Convention folks acknowledge
the importance of designating October as Minister Appreciation Month. How refreshing,
to have a legitimate month among National MakeUp Month, Monkey Month, Save a
Tortoise Month, and Green Tea Simmer Down Month, or the like.
It seems a whole month of a congregation telling their minister(s), “We
are grateful for you,” would be overdoing it a tad. Few ministers could
take that sugar overload after a Spartan diet of an occasional “Nice little
talk, Preacher” or “Good song. I liked it last month when you sang
it, too.” But, a day or two or a week of genuinely expressed gratitude
would be a wonderful experience for the minister and the congregation.
So how does a church say “Thanks” to its minister(s)? Well, it has
been done in just about every way imaginable. One churchs personnel committee
chair came up to the pulpit to give the offertory prayer and while there, also
looked over at the pastor and said, “Preacher, from all of us, thanks for
what you do.” Not much, but more than had ever been done before in that
church.
Lots of churches get the Ministers Appreciation Day packet from LifeWay
and follow that. The material even has a certificate of appreciation suitable
for framing, so the minister can have it in his office to remind him that at
least on that day, he was appreciated.
Another church gave their bivocational preacher a real nice pre-owned car –
a sacrifice for them and greatly needed by him. Another church gave their three
ministers two extra days off and two nights in a resort. Because the days off
were not during a time there was a deacons meeting, the ministers accepted.
Other churches have given their minister(s) gifts that have ranged from gift
certificates to nice restaurants along with enough money to pay baby-sitters
to Caribbean cruises. Unbeknownst to the church and his wife, the minister tried
unsuccessfully to trade it for a Colorado hunting trip, but remained extremely
grateful for the churchs thoughtfulness.
However a church does it, it needs to say “Thank you” regularly to
its minsters. The vocational ministry certainly stands as one of the most fulfilling,
rewarding professions on earth. And, it certainly remains one of the most demanding,
draining, even discouraging jobs around. A pat on the back, especially with
tangible expressions of gratitude, help get ministers over some difficult humps.
The Bible says a workman is worthy his hire, and he is worthy of a regular,
purposeful, congregational expression of gratitude.
By the way, if you let October slip by without Minsters Appreciation
Day, as far as this editor knows, there is no law against saying “Thanks”
during November.