The Empty Seat

Many of you know that my husband, Joseph (Husby!), works full-time at our church. He's the Director of Video Production and Worship Technology, which means a lot of things, but one of the things it means is he serves all three services at church most Sundays of the year.

Because of that, I'm asked from time to time about the "empty seat" that leaves beside me during worship services. 

"Don't you wish your husband could sit with you during church?"

"Isn't it hard being alone during worship?"

"Don't you get tired of your husband not being able to worship with you?"

"Don't you wish you could actually worship with your husband for once?"

I've come to realize that my attitude about the empty seat is my choice. I could choose to pout and wish Joseph could sit with me. I could choose to feel sorry for myself because worship services aren't the same because Joseph isn't sitting with me. I could choose to be bitter about the situation.

OR

I could choose a very different attitude!

I could choose to remember that God created my husband with a precious servant's heart.

I could choose to remember that God called my husband into ministry, and he answered that call!

I could choose to remember the joy that fill's Joseph's heart as he serves.

I could choose to remember the sacrifice that he makes willingly each week to help create an environment where our church family is able to worship with minimal distractions.

I could choose to remember how good he looks in black, and that's one of his standard colors on Sundays. hehe ;O)

I could choose to remember that my husband is at his best when he's stepping into what God has called him to do, which is most often serving someone else.

I could choose to remember all the other people with empty seats each Sunday, whether it's because they have loved ones serving or because they don't have loved ones to worship with them, and then I could pray for courage to reach out to the other people with empty seats! (God is still working on me about that one.)

I could choose to think of all the women who long to have husbands who love to serve.

I could choose JOY!

I could choose gratitude and praise, because, at the end of the day, I'm thankful for the empty seat. 

I'm thankful I'm married to a man who loves serving the Lord and serving others. He serves out of a purity and sincerity of heart that I don't see in many others. 

(I'm also thankful that, often, my empty seat isn't really empty at all. It's usually filled by my best friend, and I'm thankful we're able to worship together!)

My husband puts skin on Colossians 3:17 for me: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."And it doesn't take long being around him to understand why his favorite verse is Colossians 3:23. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men ..."

Joseph, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I love you, and my heart fills with joy on Sundays when I see you serving. I'm thankful God brought us together, and I'm thankful you answer His call to serve year after year, week after week, day after day. You're my hero. :O)