http://www.helium.com/items/1641135-misconceptions-about-your-pastors-children Jennifer Wells states “Your Pastor's Family Does Not Think They Are Perfect.”
She continues by saying it is understood, whether or not it is ever stated,
that to misbehave in any way, shape or form can negatively impact, or even
destroy the preacher parent's m inistry. Preacher's children grow up under an
overwhelming sense of 'should'. This misconception is so strongly practiced in
a thousand subtle ways that it is instilled in the children subconsciously. It
manifests itself as the pressure to always do or be 'just right', backed by the
fear of harming the family ministry or reputation, and fortified with the
uneasy feeling that despite all best efforts, you are actually still so very
wrong and should always be ashamed. This is what a lot of people automatically
think about preacher’s kids. I had friends who would say, "you want to go to a
party?" Oh, never mind you are a church girl. Then I had friends who thought they
knew all about being a preacher’s kids, but they didn’t have a clue. They would
say when preacher’s kids are kept in the house all the time on strict policies,
they end up straying away. Yes, that was
the case in many preacher homes, but not mine. My parents gave us freedom, but
we still remained on a leash, so that we wouldn't stray too far away. I love them
for that and I hate the statistics that non-believers come up with. I even
got upset with those preacher’s kids that strayed away because I thought they made me
look bad.
Very nice work sharing specific examples and reflecting on how they affected you. I also like your mix of outside sources and personal experience.
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