PtP Brain
As you read these words (if you are reading them early on Thursday morning), Jim and I are on our way to Sevierville, Tennessee for Polishing the Pulpit. This is one of our favorite weeks of the year for many reasons.
We get to spend some time with at least one of our children and his family. We also get to see so many people we have come to know and love over these many years in ministry. The singing is phenomenal, and the lessons put you on a spiritual high. There is no bad language or immodest apparel. It’s really a little taste of heaven here on earth.
I have been in PtP mode for several months now as I prepared to speak at this event. “PtP brain” simply refers to what has occupied a great deal of my thoughts for the last couple of months. As the time approaches, I sometimes become more distant to those around me as my thoughts begin to focus on those topics I need to cover.
Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing since my topics have sent me even more to God’s word to prepare what I will say. However, as I was thinking about this state that I’m in, I began to wonder how many other times in my life I have been so focused on some task set before me and yet failed to rely upon God’s word for answers.
In the early years of our marriage when I had “newlywed brain,” I don’t remember relying as much on God’s word for advice as I should have. What marriage wouldn’t be made better by reading and applying those passages found in Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 which have to do with marriage?
In the early years of my teaching career when I had “new teacher brain” and was so focused on being the best teacher I could be to those high schoolers, wouldn’t I have been better served to really focus in on the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus concerning how they should interact with those around them?
When that first baby came along and I was overwhelmed with “new mother brain,” wouldn’t I have been better served to focus on what the Psalmist said in Psalm 127:3-4 concerning the blessing children are to parents?
When our life changed and I went from being a school teacher’s wife to being a preacher’s wife, my brain really had a jolt! “Preacher’s wife brain” is in a league all its own! I wasn’t trained for this role in life so I spent those first few years trying to please people. When I finally decided to just be myself and listen to Solomon’s words when he said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5,6), my role as a preacher’s wife became so much easier.
I’ve had lots of other “brains” in my life when I focused too heavily on the earthly tasks set before me – mother of teens, mother of college students, mother-in-law, ladies’ day speaker, grandmother, elder’s wife, wife of a retired preacher.
I can’t even put into words how thankful I am for God’s direction in my life. The tough times have helped me to learn to rely upon Him heavily, and the easy times have helped me show more gratitude. The Apostle Paul said it best:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set you minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Col. 3:1,2)
“PtP Brain?” Not a problem!
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AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
