Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Transparent: Invisible, or obvious (11/27/25)
-
TITLE: The Sunday Maggie Stopped Pretending | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
12/02/25 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
She wasn’t lying… just editing.
Overwhelmed? “Oh, I’m fine!” (Even though her day had started with stepping on a Lego, spilling coffee on her only clean blouse, and discovering that her toddler had “redecorated” the living room with permanent markers.) Exhausted?
“Just peachy!” (Which, in code, meant “running on coffee, grace, and sheer panic.”)
Hurt? “Well, the Lord is good,” she whispered, her smile in place. (Because nothing says “I’ve got this” like a grin that could fool a cat—or at least a very judgmental goldfish.)
Maggie had never imagined this life. She pictured a husband with a normal schedule—home for games, recitals, date nights. But pastoring wasn’t nine-to-five. Emergencies didn’t wait. Christmas Eve dinner interrupted by a member in crisis. Vacation cut short by tragedy. Maggie grieved both her church family and her own—plus the fact that her suitcase now contained more prayers than clothes, and she wasn’t entirely sure the suitcase itself hadn’t started praying for mercy.
So each Sunday she put on her bright face, walked into church, and pretended everything was perfectly “peachy.”
Suzanne, however, saw through it. She watched Maggie closely, praying for a way to help her open up, to remind her that pastors’ wives were allowed to be human too—tired, overwhelmed, hurting… and occasionally tempted to hide in the nursery with the kids’ snack stash.
Another Sunday arrived. Maggie dressed the kids, put on her practiced smile, and headed to church. Her youngest had discovered a new game called “run down the aisle screaming” and her eldest was practicing stealth ninja moves to sneak candy into her Sunday School bag. Maggie muttered a quick prayer for patience, grace, and invisibility cloaks.
After dropping the children at their classes, she slipped into her own Sunday School room, greeting others with her familiar cheerful tone—and secretly hoping no one noticed the coffee stain on her blouse or the pancake syrup in her hair from breakfast chaos.
Suzanne came alongside her and gave her a warm, encouraging hug.
Their elderly and loving Sunday School Teacher, Mrs. Butler. began as she always did, with Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made…” Then she opened her Bible. “For our study today, let’s look at Ephesians 4:25, reading from The Message: ‘No more lies, no more pretense… When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.’”
She scanned the room. “Ladies, we do this all the time. I ask how you are and everyone says ‘fine.’ Really? No one is hurting? No one is overwhelmed? Sisters, honesty is part of our new life in Christ. You don’t have to pretend everything is hunky-dory when it isn’t—unless, of course, your hunky-dory involves hiding chocolate in your Bible bag… then we’ll pray over the chocolate too.” Mrs. Butler smiled.
The room was quiet.
Then Maggie felt something inside her crumble. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m… not doing well,” she whispered. “I could really use your prayers. I’m tired of carrying this alone. And… I think my toddler hid my car keys in the cereal box again.”
In an instant, fifteen women surrounded her, laying hands on her, praying over her with tenderness and strength. As they prayed, something heavy lifted. Peace—the kind she hadn’t felt in months—settled deep into her heart.
For the first time in a long while, Maggie wasn’t fine. And for the first time in a long while, she didn’t have to pretend she was.
Moral of the story: Transparency invites connection, connection invites healing… and sometimes, laughter sneaks in alongside the prayers. Because let’s face it, even pastors’ wives need a little chaos and chocolate in their lives.
Based on a true event
Psalm 118:24 from NIV
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
My uncle was a pastor and he and my aunt could not go on trips or vacations very often because he needed to preach on Sundays.
I believe that is why God said, “When two or three are gathered.” to pray for our struggles as well as our victories.
Great job!