A couple was getting ready for church one Sunday morning. As they finished their breakfast, the wife noticed that her husband still hadn’t changed into his church clothes.
Puzzled, she asked, “Why aren’t you dressed for church? We’re going to be late.”
He responded calmly, “It’s simple. I’m not going today.”
Surprised by his answer, she pressed further: “Why not? What’s going on?”
He sighed and began listing his reasons: “I have three very solid reasons. First, the church is way too cold in the mornings—I hate shivering through the service. Second, I don’t feel welcome anymore. People stare, whisper behind my back, and it feels like everyone’s judging me. And third, I’m just not in the mood. I don’t feel like going, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise.”
His wife listened patiently, but she wasn’t convinced. She took a deep breath and replied with her own list: “Well, I’ve got three reasons why you should go. First, the church has heating now—it’s not cold like it used to be. Second, you’re focusing too much on the few people who gossip. There are many who love you, who come every week to hear you speak. And third… you’re the minister. You can’t just skip church!”
The husband looked at her in silence for a few seconds, as if trying to see if she was joking. But the look on her face told him she was dead serious—and right. Like it or not, being a spiritual leader came with responsibility, and he couldn’t just walk away from that because of a bad mood.
This humorous exchange between a husband and wife offers a lighthearted but meaningful reminder of the reality many families face—and the weight that often comes with leadership roles. Even those who guide others can have moments of doubt or fatigue, but having someone to lovingly nudge them back on track makes all the difference.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re a churchgoer or the person standing behind the pulpit—everyone has days when they’d rather stay home. But commitment, support, and a little humor help carry us through.