The Cleaver Family.
Aren’t they just the picture of perfect family harmony? In case you were either born in the last 30 years or didn’t grow up on TV Land, this is the family from “Leave it to Beaver.” Mr. Ward Cleaver never appeared without a shirt and tie, doted on his wife and spent lots of time with his children. Mrs. June cleaver famously cooked dinner in pearls and heels, was always polite and kind, and made sure her family was well taken care of. Wally and Theodore (or, the Beaver) were polite and obedient. Wally let his little brother tag along with him on Saturdays.
The Cleavers remind me of another family…my pastor’s family! Don’t they remind you of your pastor’s family? Always perfect, polite and happy. Right? Wrong!
I hate to break it to you, but the idea of a perfect pastor’s family is as fictional as the Cleavers themselves! While it is important that your pastor and his family adhere to the Scripture’s guidelines, it is also important to remember that they are human. They have bad days, heartache, financial needs and family struggles just like you.
When I was in the 4th grade, I spent Sunday afternoon with my friend whose family had just joined our church. We went outside to play where her dad was washing the family van in their driveway. When he saw me, his face fell and he quickly said, “Oh! I don’t usually work on Sunday! I just had to do this real quick!” I was bewildered for a minute and then it hit me. “He thinks I’m going to run home and tell on him to the preacher!” If he only knew how uptight the Cunningham house WASN’T. Hehe.
Your pastor, his wife, and their children need friendship, love and encouragement just like you do! So the next time someone from your pastor’s family catches you washing your car on Sunday, put down the squeegee and ask how you can pray for them. As the Beaver used to say, “that would be swell!”
Whitney for…
RefreshHer 
Whitney, that was wonderful and so, so right. Uncle John and I were so Blessed to really get to know our Pastor and his family. Yes, we found that they were just human like us. The same wants the same needs and they even could let their hair down and be a barrel of fun. I'm so thankful the Lord sent your family into our lives.
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Having two sons in law, and one brother in law in the ministry, we know for sure that the Pastor's family, is just like anyone else's except ,that they live in a Goldfish bowl. People are so hard and judgemental on them. The Pastor's kids are expected to know all the memory verses, lead in prayer, and have perfect behavior, at all times. Also they forget sometimes that they have financial needs like everyone else, and just because the offering was down, they think the Pastor can get along with less this week. It's a blessing to be in the Ministry, and also a lonely place sometimes.
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Ditto to Missionary families~ debby (“mk”)
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Great thoughts, Whitney. I remember a youth coming to our home for an afternoon who actually thought Jeff (his pastor) stood behind a pulpit TO WATCH T.V.! Funny!!
–Dianne aka June with sons Wally and The Beaver
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