Welcome to Reverend Mother.
Chasing two dreams
I’m a pastor and a mom. This is a blog about having a foot in two worlds, and being imperfect, inadequate and available to God in both at the same time.
I’m not sure how many pastors have nursed a baby between worship services on a Sunday morning, or how many have had to quickly change clothes before going to an Administrative Board meeting because their nicest suit just experienced “the fountain of youth” during a diaper change. Life around our house has plenty of screaming and tears (sometimes even from the baby!) but more often lots of chances at laughter and many, many reasons for thankfulness.
Before Drew was born I was secretly afraid that by adding “Mother” to already full life of “Reverend” I would never be able to give myself fully to either. That I would be divided between two worlds, always wishing I was somewhere else and feeling I wasn’t doing my best in either role. But in the last fourteen months I’ve been amazed that the part of my brain that loves deep thoughts, great stories, and theological insights didn’t turn to mush. Instead, I think it became more active and alive. My son has given me more passion for ministry and desire to seek out the deep things of God. He deserves to grow up in a world where people think deeply, love passionately and laugh a lot. I hope to share that world here with you.
Jessica,
This has brought tears to my eyes!! I have loved reading your blog!! Well spoken and transparent! I can’t wait to see where this takes our sisters! You can come see me anytime too! http://fulfillment-priceless.blogspot.com I love how you set yours up! Maybe we could chat! :0) I love you!
bone crushers,
Nicole Maggart
I’m excited to visit your site! Thanks for the sweet words.
~Jessica
Jessica,
Congrats on your Reverend Mother blog! I so can relate to the secret worry about adding “Mother” to a jam packed life and was so surprised myself at how much impact, meaning, and understanding has come relating to my Heavenly Father through parenting eyes. I never fully understood how God could totally love us unconditionally until Rianna hit the rebel age of 3. Wow, I love that kiddo no matter what and nothing they could ever do would ever take that love a way. How awesome that our God loves us even more intensely! Another huge surprise was a new found understanding of God’s adopted love for His children. I get asked a lot if I would have loved biological children more and I can’t even begin to imagine how as this path was God’s plan for us. A lot of Reverend’s appear to be super human and are hard to relate to…not you and I thank God for that! Jessica, thank you so much for being humanly transparent and sharing with us a glimpse of your life.
Blessings,
Lois
Ooh. Not looking forward to “the rebel age of 3.” As before, I’ll be calling you for wisdom!
I love how your family is a witness to God’s love in so many ways. What a unique picture of God’s adopted love. Of course you love them with your whole heart X2. No doubt about it.
~Jessica
Jessica # This is so exciting! So many more people will get to be blessed by your insights that always create a clearer image of who God is. I look forward to future posts!
Love and appreciate you,
Lisa
Jessica# I have loved reading your posts, and I am so excited to follow your adventures and insights as both a mommy and pastor.
Jessica! Thank you for the invite to be part of your beautiful blog! I had the pleasure of meeting you when you were spiritual director (I was singing with Lois) at the Walk to Emmaus and just in that short time I could tell you were a genuine person in every sense of the word. You were just starting your motherhood journey then with plenty of morning sickness and look at you now. Your son is so precious and in my book you have the two best jobs in the world; mother and reverend and you seem to balance them well and even manage to find the humor in situations that many would probably not handle near as well. I look forward to following your blog and will announce it on my facebook page. All the best to you and your wonderful family! Katie
Katie – of course I remember that Emmaus weekend. I was doing a terrible job of hiding my morning sickness. I told so many people that I “just had a Little Bug” that we nicknamed Drew our little bug for a long time so I wouldn’t be lying. 😉 Hope you’re doing well.
~Jessica
Congrats on the blog, Jessica! Love your writing. Have you heard of the RevGalBlogPals ring? Your blog would be perfect for that… http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/
Glad you’re keeping up the writing and chasing those two dreams. Look forward to following your thoughts and adventures!
Rebecca (from Glen 2008)
Rebecca,
I got to hang out with Laura Brown from our Glen adventures a few weeks ago. What a fun time! I saw on Facebook you’re going back again.
Thanks for the referral to the blogring. I’ll check it out.
~Jessica
Cheers to your new blog! I love reading the things that you write. So candid. So familiar.
Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations on your new blog – and I LOVE the name! (It reminds me of my favorite movie, The Sound of Music!)
I think the internet and social media sites get a bad rap much of the time. For many of us, these sites are a way to spur each other on or a way to conncet with others to feel like we aren’t alone in our journey as Mothers. I look at it kind of like a “quilting bee” – but we don’t have time to sit and quilt anymore. Instead we log into Facbook or visit our favorite blogs and are encouraged for the day or night to come.
So…..GREAT JOB on the new blog! I look forward to sitting down and “quilting” with you in the days to come!
Thanks Shelby – I’ve learned so much just watching your sweet family and how much you love each other. I also love it when you refer to posts from the Gypsy Mama site on facebook. It’s good to have virtual resources and models as we find our way through this stuff!
Love the “quilting” metaphor, by the way.
~Jessica
Great job! You continue to inspire me in so many ways…I look forward to witnessing how God will use you through this blog 🙂
Blessings,
Terry
Jessica – Thanks so much for the invitation to your blog. I am excited to read and dialogue as you share your heart. Mothering is the most important job there is and “reverending” is WAY up there as well! Both are all about caring for precious souls…can’t wait to join you in this new adventure!
So sweet to know you were at our house loving on our little one who was napping (or faking it?) while you typed this. Thanks for being part of our family and for supporting me in the mothering and the reverending. Your gift of friendship is priceless.
~Jessica
P.S. I definitely know what a chicken says. 😉
A fabulous beginning. For me, being able to share in your thoughts and desires is just amazingly wonderful. I’m sure you will have a huge following, but I will be the most proud, the most humbled and the most frequent reader.
I love you,
MOM
Thanks for teaching me in word and example. You are the best mom and Grammy we could ever hope for.
Love you,
Jes
Dear Jessica,
Congrats on the launch of your blog! I love it. As I was reading through your posts, I was feeding Madeline…quite apropos. By the time I read everything, she had milk and poop coming out both ends. I look forward to spending time with you via this blog. Your writing is admirable and inspirational. I recently commented to a friend about how I was in need of some spiritual fulfillment. I sense this blog may be just the inspiration I need to rediscover my own path of spiritual mama enlightenment.
Love,
MadMaxMama, PhD
Thanks MadMaxMama! I remember Drew’s early days of milk and poop seepage. Funny that he’s now sandwiched between your two. Hope there is spiritual fulfillment for you from many corners of life.
I can’t wait to hang out when you’re here this summer. Looking forward to getting our virtual contact back to an “in person” connection again.
Love,
Jes
Hi Jessica! Congratulations on your new blog! I look forward to keeping up with you and your inspirational thoughts. It’s fun to be able to use this type of avenue to create a space to connect. I agree with one of the other commenters that social media gets a bad rap, but acutally it is a place to grow and connect when used appropriately.
Blessings!
Jana
Jessica,
I am thoroughly enjoying your blog. I have come to treasure the collective wisdom of the many women in my life and your contribution to this genre is fabulous! I look forward to visiting here on a regular basis to experience the joys, struggles, and insights, and of the “Reverend Mother”. The blog is easy to navigate, and thanks for making the links to your sermons so easy to find. I’ve always loved to hear you preach!
Love,
Jeanne
Jessica,
Thanks for inviting me to follow your thoughts. I feel fortunate for the opportunity. Motherhood has certainly opened my eyes to how God sees me, shepherds me and loves me I did not fully appreciate the depth or strength of his love until I became a mother.
I look forward (as always) to hearing more from you. You are an incredible writer and wonderful interpreter of His word.
As for the blog, I also like the format. One change that would be nice# opportunity to respond to your questions without scrolling to bottom of blog. (maybe there already is a way and I am just too technically challenged to see it. )
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer!
I totally agree at how God uses our own kids to open our eyes to His feelings and actions towards us. It’s amazing to think how much more He loves us than we can ever love our own. I’m thankful daily that He’s God so I don’t have to be.
Look forward to sharing more here… and in person soon!
~Jessica
Wonderful start Jessica! I will look forward to following your blog.
Oh and by the way, I LOVE the name of your blog!
Jessica,
I loved reading your blog! I have wanted to do one … but think I wonder if my congregation (in small town TN) would want to know ALL of what I would want to post!?!
Ok, so at the risk of being too nosy (just tell me) – which site did you have success using? I’ve used several – and have met either highly fundamental men (yeah a woman pastor is a no-go) or fruitcakes. Literally. Just curious! I’ve been on my “no online dating” thing lately…but who knows I may change my mind again.
Thanks! And blessings on your blog!
Lea
Lea,
Not nosy at all! That’s what blogs are for, right? We met on Christiancafe.com. There were plenty of fruitcakes there, but it was a searchable site (unlike eharmony) and I liked that it gave me that control over who I talked with. Jim and I met really early in the process, so I don’t really have much experience online dating. Tina also met her husband on the same site, so I say it’s worth a go! It’s so hard to meet anyone as a pastor. I know there are wonderful men out there looking for an amazing woman like you!
Blessings,
Jessica
I love your blog…I’m really thinking about doing one…you always know how to inspire me Pastor Boss Lady or now Reverend Mother! Awesome testimony in your biography.
-Sean
Sean, Congrats on graduation! Thanks for visiting me here. Hope you can make it to Texas to see us in person soon.
~Jessica
Jessica, Thanks for your invitation to your new Blog. What a nice beginning you have made. I love your ability to share your thoughts and experiences so clearly and genuinely. It certainly opens the door for others to share openly through the wisdom of your relationship with the Lord and your daily life experiences. You are a blessing to those of us who know you. Love to you,
Nelda
Nelda,
How fun that you came to visit the blog! I hope you’ll stop in here again. My mom says hello!
~Jessica
I am delighted with your blog. Here I am again! Tell your mom I love her and hope she is enjoying being a grandmother!
I love how you stated this. As a mom that is in ministry, as well, it is so hard for me to find a balance because of the emotional pull of both callings. Some jobs you can just leave at the door – but ministry is so emotionally draining and it should be, if you are really called and really passionate about people. But my boys deserve my best. And I do believe as a mom, I must put them before the church – I’m not saying before God, I’m saying before church & other people. I don’t want my kids growing up thinking that everyone else is more important to me than they are and yet, it’s great for them to learn compassion and how we are to regard others.
Anyway, like to hear your perspective on things. Thanks for the blog!